Developer appeals council decision on Foxhunter site
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A DEVELOPER has lodged an appeal against South Dublin County Council’s decision to refuse permission for the construction of a 20-storey apartment block, two three-storey apartment blocks one and four-storey apartment block, at the car park adjacent to the vacant Foxhunter pub in Lucan.
The contentious plans attracted 182 third-party submissions, with many people raising concerns about the density of the development, the impact it would have on surrounding properties and the zoning of the site, before the council refused planning permission on December 9.
The vacant Foxhunter pub site planned for apartments
Only one of the third-party submissions was in favour of the proposal, as they stated the development would bring “much needed residential development to a vacant site”, and that there is “a need to encourage” the delivery of high-rise residential buildings.
The local authority stated that the proposed development was “a material contravention of the zoning objective of the site”, as it is zoned for retail warehouse use and not for residential development.
In their decision to refuse permission, the council also said the development would be “visually obtrusive” and “adversely impact” on the visual amenity of the subject site, and that it would lead to “unacceptable levels of traffic congestion” in the area.
Manahan Planners, acting on behalf of developer Fox Connect Limited, lodged an appeal against the council’s decision with An Bord Pleanála on January 13.
Outlining their grounds for appeal, the appellant said that the social infrastructure within the locality “has the capacity to account for the development without undue stress on facilities”.
In relation to the zoning issues, the appellant claimed that a large area to the east of the subject site is residentially zoned, but contains two healthcare facilities, St Loman’s and Ballydowd Special Care Unit.
They also stated that Lucan is designated as a “metropolitan consolidation town” in the South Dublin County Development Plan, and that this directs the area “to be developed at a relatively large scale”.
A decision on the appeal has not yet been made by An Bord Pleanála.
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