Estate agent co-founder successfully appeals €25k financial contribution
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A DEVELOPER who received planning permission to turn the former premises of BP O’Reilly Solicitors in Tallaght Village into a restaurant, has successfully appealed the financial contribution aspect of the permitted development.
As previously reported in The Echo, Mark Fitzgerald, co-founder and chairman of Sherry FitzGerald estate agents, lodged a planning application with South Dublin County Council in November 2019, seeking permission for the change of use of the premises, which is known as Coric House.
The former BP O’Reilly solicitors in Tallaght Village will be changed into a restaurant
In his application, Mr Fitzgerald outlined plans for internal alterations to the existing office at first floor level and a change of use of the two existing ground floor retail units at the rear of the property, to be amalgamated into a single licensed restaurant premises.
External alterations include new restaurant and office signage and shop frontage to the rear of the premises, and three restaurant entrances – one at Old Bawn Road and two at Courthouse Square, and the use of the external paved area onto Courthouse Square as a restaurant seating area.
South Dublin County Council granted permission for the plans last July, with several conditions.
One of these conditions included requiring the developer to pay a financial contribution of €25,285.80 in respect of public infrastructure and facilities.
Doyle Kent Ltd, on behalf of Mr Fitzgerald, lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála (ABP) against the financial contribution aspect of the permitted development on July 31.
The appellant stated that the council did not properly apply the terms of the South Dublin County Development Contribution Scheme 2016-2020, and requested that ABP reduce the sum sought for the contribution to €3,565.
Their grounds for appeal included their findings that the council did not apply a schedule of exemptions and reductions that were applicable to the developer’s plans for Coric House.
These exemptions and reductions included a 50 per cent reduction in non-residential rates for development in village centre areas, and that internal layout changes, where no additional floor area is created, shall be exempt.
ABP upheld the appeal and instructed that the financial contribution aspect of the permitted development is to be amended to instead require the developer to pay €3,872.60.
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