Submissions lodged against Esso site plans
By Mary Dennehy
SOME 26 submissions objecting to a proposed development on the former Esso site in Tallaght Village have been lodged with South Dublin County Council.
In total, 27 submissions, 26 raising concerns and one in support, were lodged in relation to a proposed 43-unit development called Friars Place.
The Esso site in Tallaght village
Lodged by Sirio Homes, the planning application provides for 43 apartments housed across two separate buildings in a development which ranges in height from four to eight storeys.
Plans for the mixed-used, build to rent scheme also includes proposals for a new civic plaza, four commercial outlets and improvement works to the Katherine Tynan garden.
Among the submissions lodged are representations from four Tallaght councillors, Cllr Charlie O’Connor, Cllr Mick Duff, Cllr Teresa Costello and Cllr Liam Sinclair – all of whom have objected, citing height and density as main concerns.
Dublin South West TD John Lahart also recorded his objection.
“In doing so I am supporting local residents who are seriously concerned with regard to height, impact, density and design of the proposed application”, Deputy Lahart wrote.
An artist impression of the plans
A number of individuals, whose families have been living in the village for generations, made submissions, with a group submission also lodged on behalf of Tallaght Village residents.
A third generation resident of Main Street wrote in his submission: “Tallaght Village like all other historic villages in Ireland should be protected, especially by the public representatives whom we elect, and by the council planning department.
“Rather than making it a concrete jungle, it should be a thriving village and should keep the tight community spirit it has at present.
“It should be cerished and invested in, not by building a high rise apartment block in the centre of it, which is totally out of character with the Main Road side of the village, but by having more open spaces and cultural/community areas as suggested in the LAP [Local Area Plan].”
Tallaght Tidy Towns, Belgard Area Residents Association, Bancroft Residents Association and Tallaght Community Council also lodged objections.
According to the Tallaght Tidy Towns’ submission, the committee welcomes “the fact that the former Esso garage is to be developed”.
“It has been an unsightly scar on the fabric of the village for far too long”, Tallaght Tidy Towns wrote.
“In the current housing crisis we also welcome the creation of much needed accommodation.”
However, the group has expressed concerns over the height of the proposed development, its scale and appearance – which the committee believes is “completely out of keeping with its surroundings”.
A submission lodged by O’Mahony Holdings SPRL confirms that they “wish to assert that we support the redevelopment of the subject site based on the plans and particulars submitted”.
The former Esso site adjoins land owned by O’Mahony Holdings SPRL, which is home to Greenhill’s Court, four apartments blocks ranging in height from two to four storeys.
In its submission, O’Mahony Holdings SPRL noted: “We wish to highlight to the Planning Authority that we intend on submitting a pre-application request for the future development of our site in the near future, which has been designed to work in harmony with the proposed development under Reg Ref SD20A/0250 [Sirio Home’s application].”
The land in question is an undeveloped area owned by O’Mahony Holdings, which ‘wraps around’ the former Esso site.
Speaking with The Echo, Tara De Buitlear, PRO of Tallaght Community Council, questioned if the community should have been shown the “complete plan” for the area, if proposals are in the pipeline for another development designed ‘to work in harmony’ with Sirio’s Home’s application.
A council decision on Friar’s Place is due by November 25.
Full details on www.sdcc.ie planning section.
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