High Court challenge to ABP approval of Hellfire Club €15 million visitor centre
By Hayden Moore
CONTENTIOUS plans to build a €15million visitor centre at the Helfire Club were approved by An Bord Pleanála last June, and now a local resident’s group are challenging the development through the High Court.
Hellfire Massy Residents Association have sought leave from the High Court to bring proceedings with the goal of reversing permission for the visitor centre at Massy’s Estate and the Hellfire Club.
An artist impression of the tourism centre
The resident’s group have massive concerns in relation to the impact that the visitor centre will have, believing how visitors using the visitor centre as a gateway for accessing the mountains has not been assessed.
The plans, in which An Bord Pleanála granted permission to South Dublin County Council for, include the development of a visitor centre with an exhibition space, a panoramic café, toilets, a walkers’ lounge, education centre and retail unit at the Hellfire Club.
A treetop canopy walk connecting the centre with Massy’s Wood and carpark also form part of the project, which is being developed in conjuncture with Coillte and the Dublin Mountains Partnership.
The case was brought before Mr Justice Richard Humphreys last week, and it was adjourned until next week for the resident’s group to bring proceedings.
The intended judicial review against An Bord Pleanála, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, and the State, includes the resident’s association ultimately wanting orders to overturn the decision to build the centre.
Hellfire Massy Residents Association are not opposed to developing the area but believe that in its current form, the development at Montpelier Hill will have environmental consequences.
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