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Extra.ie
31-07-2025
- Business
- Extra.ie
St Stephen's Green 'dome' saved from wrecking ball
One of Dublin's most famous landmarks – the dome at the St Stephen's Green Centre – has been saved… for now. This follows An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) refusing planning permission to contentious plans for the €100million redevelopment of the centre, which would have removed the dome and much of the glass structure. An Taisce had complained that a new office development in its place 'lacks architectural sensitivity towards St Stephen's Green and results in the loss of an impressive naturally lit space'. One of Dublin's most famous landmarks – the dome at the St Stephen's Green Centre – has been saved… for now. Pic: Getty The appeal came before ACP after third party appeals by An Taisce, former Irish Times Environment Editor Frank McDonald and St Stephen's Green Centre trader, Emmett Rogers. Mr Rogers has been operating the Tribe outlet at the centre since 1992. In his appeal, he said he was 'horrified' the Council had granted planning permission to the mixed-use scheme. The refusal by ACP overturns a grant of permission made to DTDL Ltd issued by Dublin City Council in December 2023. The refusal by ACP overturns a grant of permission made to DTDL Ltd issued by Dublin City Council in December 2023.- The largest component of the new scheme was to be 35,043 sq metres of offices and ancillary spaces and the applicants increased the level of retail and food and beverage space after the Council expressed concerns. Opening the door for a future application, ACP said the replacement of the façade, including the external trellis detailing and dome, would not contravene the Dublin City Development Plan, subject to an appropriately high Glass ceiling: The iconic dome of St Stephen's Green Centre quality design solution.
Dublin Live
10-07-2025
- Business
- Dublin Live
Relief for Ballymun locals as gambling arcade plans refused following community pushback
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Relief has washed over the community of Ballymun after a gaming arcade planned for the area was refused permission by Dublin City Council's planning department. Plans were submitted for the gaming arcade at Santry Cross, but the development was refused permission on July 4. DCC's reason for refusal was the arcade's proximity to residential development. The proposal was strongly opposed by the Ballymun community. There were 50 observations submitted on the plan with hundreds of locals signing petitions and letters against the development. People Before Profit councillor Conor Reddy said: "This was a textbook example of a community standing up for itself. This gambling arcade would have added to problems that the community has struggled hard to beat for years. It would have undermined the incredible work being done by local people and organisations to build a healthier, safer, more resilient Ballymun.' Cllr Reddy also said that he is keeping a close eye on a similar development for Finglas that is currently with An Coimisiun Pleanala. He co-hosted a public information meeting alongside Sinn Fein's Leslie Kane about the concerns of the gaming arcades in both communities. He continued: 'We showed what can happen when the community pulls together. This decision shows how much power we have when we organise, and now we need to build on that momentum. "This isn't just about stopping something bad. It's about creating space for something better. Ballymun is the perfect place to realise the vision of Community Wealth Building that's in the Dublin City Development Plan. This community deserves quality services, inclusive spaces, and sustainable development, and this decision puts us one step closer.' While Aontu's Edward MacManus, who also owns a pharmacy in the area, praised the decision by DCC. He said he received 500 signatures from locals opposing the plans, and as a member of the Ballymun 4 Business steering committee. He said: "This proposed development was a non-runner in my estimation form the beginning and I was really worried about it. The main reasons I was so opposed to this proposed gaming arcade included the very real risks to public health and social cohesion. "The presence of a gaming arcade would increase the risk of problem gambling, especially among vulnerable young people and families already contending with economic hardship. This proposed development could undermine ongoing sterling efforts to revitalise the area, detracting from its family-friendly environment and potentially leading to other social issues. 'This outcome is a victory for community spirit and responsible development. Ballymun deserves facilities that promote health, opportunity, and a positive future for our young people. The refusal of this gaming arcade sends a clear message that the wellbeing of residents comes first.' Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Extra.ie
09-07-2025
- Business
- Extra.ie
Gambling arcade refused for Dublin suburb
Planning permission for a new gambling arcade in Dublin has been refused following a 'mammoth' opposition campaign from the local community. A 24-hour gambling and amusement arcade was proposed for Santry Cross, in Dublin 9 with the application lodged on May 12th causing uproar among locals. The HSE Addiction Service, CATU (Community Action Tenants Union), local businesses and politicians came together to express their concerns about the proposed arcade. Planning permission for a new gambling arcade in Dublin have been refused following a 'mammoth' opposition campaign from the local community. Pic: Getty Images Last week, Dublin City Council made the decision to refuse planning permission for the facility. Among those protesting against the arcade was 'People Before Profit' TD Conor Reddy who took to social media on Tuesday with the 'good news for Ballymun.' He said: 'The gambling arcade at Santry Cross has been refused planning permission so there was an absolute mammoth campaign run by people in the local community — local organisations; local individuals; people in recovery; businesses and far more who made the common sense arguments for why this gambling arcade would be a bad idea for Ballymun.' Mr Reddy said the premises would have put more people at risk and 'set us back and reverse' the progress that many had made together. He said he was 'really delighted' following the news, adding: 'I think it shows the power of community. Fair play to everybody who got an objection in. A massive fair play to those who encouraged others to put in objections. A 24-hour gambling and amusement arcade was proposed for Santry Cross, Dublin 9 with the application lodged on May 12 causing uproar amongst locals. Pic: Getty Images 'Now is a time for learning that when we come together we can achieve great things in Ballymun and maybe we can know look at all the different empty vacant units across the community. Social media users took to the comments delighted with the outcome of the proposed arcade, with one writing: 'Fantastic! An arcade would have been a disaster!' Another commented: 'Great work from the people of Ballymun and thanks for getting the ball rolling on this Conor.' A third added: 'Brilliant work, up Ballymun.' In their ruling, Dublin City Council said their Dublin City Development Plan 2022-2028 included the presumption against the development of gaming or other amusement machines in close proximity to the residential areas. They added that the provision of an amusement centre at the proposed location would be set a precedent for other similar development in the vicinity.
The Journal
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Proposed gaming machine arcade for Ballymun refused planning permission
PLANNING PERMISSION FOR a 'gaming and amusement arcade' in the north Dublin suburb of Ballymun has been refused. A proposal were submitted to Dublin City Council in May to open the facility on the Ballymun Road, near the junction with Santry Avenue , in a vacant retail unit on the ground floor of an apartment block. Planning documents state that the proposed arcade would open daily from 10am to 10pm and would 'feature a diverse range of gaming machines for interactive entertainment', adding that customers will pay to use the machines. HSE addiction services, youth and community projects, sports clubs, businesses, residents, TDs and councillors were among those to condemn the proposed facility as inappropriate and harmful. A representative of HSE addiction services in Ballymun described bringing such an arcade to one of the most socially disadvantaged areas in the state as 'exploitative'. In a decision issued last week, Dublin City Council has refused planning permission for the facility. Floor plans for the proposed arcade filed with Dublin City Council. Dublin City Council Dublin City Council The council said that while the proposed use would generally be acceptable in urban villages, a policy in the Dublin City Development Plan 2022-2028 includes a presumption against the development of gaming or other amusement machines in close proximity to residential areas, 'as is the case in this instance'. Advertisement 'Having regard to the proximity of the subject site to existing residential property, it is considered that, in the absence of sufficient justification, the provision of an amusement centre at this location would be contrary to Policy CCUV14 of the development plan and would, by itself and by the precedent it would set for other similar development in the vicinity, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.' People Before Profit TD Conor Reddy was one of a number of politicians who objected to the facility. He previously told The Journal that at least 30 written objections were sent to the council by the local community. In a statement today, Reddy called the planning refusal 'a victory for people power and common sense'. 'This was a textbook example of a community standing up for itself,' he said. 'This gambling arcade would have added to problems that the community has struggled hard to beat for years. It would have undermined the incredible work being done by local people and organisations to build a healthier, safer, more resilient Ballymun.' Dublin City Council granted planning permission for a similar gaming and amusement arcade in nearby Finglas village in April, a decision that is now under appeal to An Bord Pleanála. Reddy said he was hopeful that the refusal for the Ballymun facility 'will be a sign of things to come, that communities and their wellbeing are finally being prioritised over predatory business models'. He urged residents and the council to 'think proactively about how to fill vacant units in Ballymun with projects that serve the public good'. 'Ballymun is the perfect place to realise the vision of Community Wealth Building that's in the Dublin City Development Plan. This community deserves quality services, inclusive spaces, and sustainable development, and this decision puts us one step closer.' With reporting from Valerie Flynn Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Government's expected apartment plans a 'serious overreach', says councillor
A Dublin City Councillor has accused the Government of trying to deflect from its own failures in housing by scapegoating creatives in local communities. Minister for Housing James Browne is expected to bring proposals to the Cabinet to change requirements around minimum apartment sizes, the mix of apartments in developments and communal spaces. It is understood the proposed new guidelines specify that communal, community or cultural facilities within apartment schemes will not be required on a mandatory threshold basis due to the implications such requirements may have on the viability of projects. Yesterday, Dublin City Council supported an emergency motion, which was tabled by the Green Party and Labour Party, that said the proposals would "gut the provision of 5% community or cultural space in SDRAs (Strategic Development Regeneration Areas) and developments of 10,000sq/m or more". This, it described, as "a hard-won provision in the 2022-2028 Dublin City Development Plan". It expressed the council's "deep dismay" at the proposals as detailed in "media reports" over the weekend. The motion was tabled by Green Party Councillor Claire Byrne and Labour Councillor Darragh Moriarty, but received cross party support. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Cllr Byrne said the proposals that could preclude local authorities from making community facilities within certain apartment schemes a mandatory requirement are a serious overreach, and "an attack on local government policy and city development plans". She pointed out that communal spaces represent just a 5% provision in large scale developments. She added that for the Minister for Housing to suggest that this could be contributing to the housing crisis is "really just galling". It is understood the minister will tell Government colleagues the proposed changes will cut building costs by between €50,000 and €100,000 per apartment. In May, Mr Browne acknowledged it would be "challenging" to reach the Government's housing output target of 41,000 homes this year. Ms Byrne agreed that radical thinking is needed to solve the housing crisis, but decades of under investment is having an impact on the situation. "The real issues are decades of under investment, the stopping of the building estate homes, letting developers dictate the market, continuous bad planning decisions in the city that have prioritised offices and hotels over homes where housing could and should be built." She added the inclusion of the scheme the city development plan was a really progressive win and said the council would welcome a meeting with the minister where he could fully explain what he is trying to achieve.
