Latest news with #BordPleanála
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Operator of Dublin Fields movie studios wins €276,000 planning levy battle
An Bord Pleanála has ruled that combined public infrastructure and special planning contributions to be paid by Lens Media Ltd to the council be reduced by a cumulative €276,018. Lens Media has stated that the proposed film studios 'will more than double the current soundstage offering in Ireland' and once fully operational, it will directly support in the region of 2,800 jobs and a further 2,100 indirectly. The board has reduced the planning contributions bill following an appeal by Lens Media. In the ruling, the appeals board has upheld the argument put forward by the applicants that a special planning contribution of €143,112 be removed as the junction upgrades at the R120 Newcastle Village-Peamount Road referenced in the condition is not exceptional or specific to the proposed development. The appeals board also ordered that a demand by the council that Lens Media Ltd pay a public infrastructure planning contribution be reduced by €132,906 from €8.859m to €8.72m. The council found that contribution exemptions in relation to the South Dublin County Council Development Contribution Scheme 2021-2025 were not properly applied. The appeals board stated that the council applied a commercial levy to 1,112sqm of the scheme which comprise switch-rooms, plant rooms, ancillary plant rooms and a standalone substation, all of which are listed as exempt from development contributions. The board made its ruling following a 27-page inspector's report recommending the reduction in planning levies. Last December, the council granted a 10-year planning permission to Lens Media Ltd for the 56-acre site which includes 20 individual structures amounting to over 74,000sqm of gross floor space. A planning report by planning consultants Tom Phillips+ Associates lodged with the application stated that Dublin Fields 'will have all the elements that will lure top productions from around the world'. The planning report stated that the project 'will be a world-class studio' and occupy the top tier of movie studios globally. In their report, the consultants stated: 'We believe this will be the largest stage in the European Union, and a unifying step in making Ireland a new hub for the movie and TV industry.'
Irish Independent
23-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Fresh blow for Dublin tourism as third hotel is refused
An Bord Pleanála has refused permission to Derek Murtagh's planned eight-storey, 81-bedroom hotel for Kevin Street Lower and Liberty Lane in Portobello, Dublin 8. A report prepared for Mr Murtagh by the Head of Hotels & Leisure at Savills, Tom Barrett, stated the planned hotel 'would be a good addition to this city centre area'. The refusal follows two hotel proposals by Eamon Waters's Sretaw Hotel Group failing to get permission to proceed this month. In one decision, the appeals board refused planning permission for a new 61-bedroom hotel close to St Stephen's Green in a new eight-storey hotel for a site known as Textile House on Johnson's Place and Clarendon Market opposite the Grafton Hotel in Dublin. In a second blow to the Sretaw Hotel Group, Dublin City Council planners refused planning permission to Mr Waters's Peachbeach UC for a 113-bedroom hotel for Baggot Street Lower as the scheme would cause serious injury to the special architectural character of the Georgian area. In relation to the Murtagh scheme, the board refused planning permission as it concluded the hotel's excessive scale, massing and architectural design would be visually overbearing with an abrupt transition within the historic terrace which would detract from the prevailing scale and architectural character of the traditional streetscape. The appeals board ruled the proposal would result in overdevelopment of the site and would negatively impact the setting of the Protected Structure. The appeals board also concluded that notwithstanding the revised scheme of reduced scale, it was not satisfied the proposed development would not seriously injure the residential amenities of the opposing properties on Liberty Lane by reason of overbearance, overlooking, potential noise and disturbance and access to daylight and sunlight. In the third ground for refusal, the board stated the board was not satisfied that the proposed development would provide an adequate level of public facilities such as a cafe, restaurant and bar uses to generate activity at street level throughout the day and night. The board also stated that it was not satisfied the operational management was adequately demonstrated as feasible in the absence of the provision of a designated loading bay off road.
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Planning grant for 246 homes at Cork site where executed RIC constable believed to be secretly buried
Constable Thomas Joseph Walsh was court martialled and executed by the IRA in Blarney during the War of Independence Planning has been granted for 246 homes to be built at a Cork site where the secret burial place of an executed RIC constable is believed to be located. An Bord Pleanála upheld planning permission on May 6 for Clockstrike Ltd to build the houses and a creche at Ringwood, Shean Upper in Blarney.
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Judicial review sought on proposed LNG plant in Kerry
Friends of the Irish Environment say they have been given leave to seek a Judicial Review of a proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) power plant in Co Kerry. The environmental organisation contends there are "critical failures" in the Environmental Impact Statement submitted by the developer, Shannon LNG. An Bord Pleanála gave permission for the 600 megawatt capacity power plant and an associated battery energy storage system in March. The proposed development would be constructed on a 630 acre site near Tarbert in Co. Kerry. The planning board said the facility was in line with climate legislation. However, FIE says an environmental assessment significantly underestimated greenhouse gas emissions because "key calculation parameters" were not clearly identified. It says emissions could be three times worse than those from a coal-fired power station and would be in breach of the State's climate mitigation targets. The matter will be back before the courts later this month.
Irish Times
03-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Tourist hostel near Dublin's Camden Street granted planning
An Bord Pleanála has overturned Dublin City Council 's decision to refuse permission for a tourist hostel, set to be located on Liberty Lane near Camden Street. The address was previously served an enforcement notice for its 'unauthorised use' as residential accommodation and deemed a fire hazard. Business owner Cathal Garrad has been given permission to retain an existing two-storey building at 10/11 Liberty Lane, along with the modification of the structure and change of use from office and retail to tourist hostel. The successful appeal grants permission for a 34-bed accommodation consisting of rooms and dorms. READ MORE Mr Garrad had been ordered to cease letting rooms at the address by the council in November 2022 after it was declared a fire hazard . An order to remove 'the unauthorised development' was issued. In 2017, the applicant had sought permission to build a four-storey building with a ground-floor retail unit and three upper storeys of office space, as well as bicycle parking, which was granted subject to conditions. The planning officer for An Bord Pleanála noted in his report in April that 'the existing building was not built in line with the planning permission granted in 2017 . . . and does not have an existing valid permission'. The planning officer noted that, contrary to the planning permission for an office and retail space, a two-story building providing 30 rooms was constructed. [ Irish hospitality group pays €1m for well-known Donegal hotel Opens in new window ] Following the subsequent removal order, Mr Garrad submitted a planning application to convert the space into a tourist hostel in 2023. It was refused and denied on appeal for not providing a 'high quality, built for purpose tourist hostel development'. The most recent application was refused by the council but was appealed by Mr Garrad, who disagreed with the local authority's assessment of the proliferation of visitor accommodation. An Bord Pleanála found in favour of the appeal and granted permission subject to conditions. In a statement, Mr Garrad said he was 'pleased that the issue of compliance with planning regulations has been resolved' and that he is looking forward to 'upgrading, enhancing and utilising the building in a manner that complies with all relevant legislation'.
