Watery Lane development not complying with plan conditons

Several planning conditions regarding a significant mixed use development have not been complied with, councillors were informed last Wednesday.

The conditions relate to the development at the Clondalkin Enterprise Centre, Watery Lane, Clondalkin which involves 86 apartments in two blocks of five and six storeys, along with the construction of four commercial units.

Permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála (ABP) to Clapton Ireland Ltd, whose directors are Jackie Cosgrave and Vincent Cosgrave, for the development in November, 2021 subject to 24 conditions.

Resident groups launched appeals to ABP against the development, citing concerns the impact it would have “on our beautiful village”, as reported by The Echo.

South Dublin County Council had granted permission for the plans in February, 2020.

As part of the development Clapton Ireland Ltd also received approval to demolish existing retail outlets at the Clondalkin Enterprise centre.

One of the planning permission conditions for the development not complied with relates to the materials, colours and textures of all the external finishes to the proposed apartment blocks and accompanying external hard surfaces.

The Senior Planner’s response in July 2023 to Clapton Ireland Limited said that the use of red brick as an external finish had been omitted on parts of both blocks and replaced with render.

The Planning Authority has concerns in relation to the proposed use and extent of render for maintenance and visual amenity reasons.

The render finish should be significantly reduced or omitted from the design and replaced with brick or another appropriate external finish, the Senior Planner continued.

Consideration should also be given to using different colours and textures to break up the massing of the buildings.

A further condition compliance with which has been deemed not acceptable relates to public lighting to be taken in charge by the council.

Herein, the senior planner’s response stated that the submission of the applicant was insufficient to assess whether it was compliant with the requirements of the South Dublin County Council Public Lighting specification.

“The[y’re] are no ducting, supply or wiring details to review, and the submitted design does not take account of existing road lighting and the calculations do not cover surrounding roads,” the senior planner continued.

In November 2022 Clapton Ireland Limited was informed by the Senior Planner that the Roads Section of the Council considered the submitted information relating to the road safety audit to be partially acceptable and that the applicant should implement the recommendations identified by the road safety audit.

Jackie Cosgrave and Vincent Cosgrave operate the Sheldon Park Hotel in Kylemore and numerous other sites in Dublin, including Larkfield House apartments at the former Liffey Valley Fitness Centre.