Outdoor area at pub would ‘seriously injure’ residential amenities

CITY planners have refused planning permission for an outdoor area at a pub in Inchicore, determining it would “seriously injure” residential amenities in the vicinity.

The Black Lion Public House was seeking permission to retain the use of an outdoor area that is heated and partially covered with seating for up to 80 people.

The site comprises a former car park located to the rear of James Plunkett House – a mixed use development consisting of ground floor commercial with apartments above.

According to a Dublin City Council planners report, the site is presently occupied by a number of open sided former storage containers and covered seated areas, which includes a public bar.

The outdoor area is located within car parking that adjoins the rear of James Plunkett House.

It sits detached from the Black Lion Public House, on the opposite side of a narrow private laneway, off Grattan Crescent.

The outdoor seating area runs along the entire ground floor façade of James Plunkett House which is occupied by a parade of commercial properties at ground floor level with residential apartments contained within the 4- storeys above.

Issues raised in submission received according to the plans include the “entire carpark has been saturated” with shipping containers, and the impact of noise disturbance and privacy for people living in the adjoining apartments.

The planners report said the development of ‘superpubs’ will be “discouraged and the concentration of pubs will be restricted in certain areas of the city where there is a danger of overconcentration of these to the detriment of other uses.

“In cases where new uses, including uses such as casinos and private members’ clubs, or extensions to the existing use are proposed, the onus is on the applicant to demonstrate that such proposed development will not be detrimental to the residential, environmental quality or the established character and function of the area,” said the report.

Planners acknowledged that the Inchicore pub invested to adapt to covid and changing times but that this needs to be “tempered by protection of existing amenities”.

Ultimately, the city council refused retention, ruling that it would cause “serious injury to the residential amenities in the vicinity” and set an “undesirable precedent for similar such development in the future”.