New Portmarnock Shops & Retail Units

More information sought on Portmarnock development

ADDITIONAL information has been sought by Fingal County Council on a proposal to construct a new retail and housing development in the middle of Portmarnock village.

The mixed retail and housing development proposed development is by Carrickhill Developments Ltd on almost half a hectare of land on the western side of tthe junction of Strand Road and Carrickhill Road.

The development includes the demolition of six existing structures including the existing shops and habitable apartment units adjacent to Borza takeaway to Strand Road, demolition of habitable house to Strand Road, and within site

and bounding the rear lane the demolition of derelict houses and sheds.

The development will consist of three storey residential and retail

accommodation to the front and northern side of the site with three

apartments at penthouse level on the corner and eight two-storey mews houses are proposed to the rear of the site which will provide for the widening of the existing laneway which accesses on to Carrickhill Road.

The accommodation to be provided will include two retail units and a coffee

shop and 32 residential units comprising of eight townhouses, three two-bedroom duplex apartments, eight three-bedroom apartments, 10 two-bedroom apartments and three one-bedroom apartments.

Some 73 car parking spaces are proposed in basement car park with access from Strand Road.

The total gross floor area of the proposed development excluding the

basement car park is 3831.1 square metres.

Fingal County Council have asked for additional information on 13 issues before a decision is made on whether or not the proposed development will be granted planning permission.

The council said the development was ‘generally acceptable’ but a number of issues need to be addressed.

Concerned were raised over the provision of private open space in the development and to facilitate greater privacy for residents using open space the council has demanded the omission of one of the town houses, changes to apartments seven to 18 and sought assurances on how open spaces will be screened from the surrounding properties.

Further details have been requested on the car-parking arrangements within the site, in particular, the council have asked that at least 55 spaces in the basement car-park be restricted to residential use.

The developers must submit ‘shadow diagrams’ to show the impact of the proposed development on a single property to the north of the site which planners are concerned may be overlooked and overshadowed by the development.

A detailed landscaping plan must be submitted to the local authority as well as further details and assurances that the foul and surface water provisions of the plan are adequate for the proposed development and detail the water supply layout for the development.

The design of the development must also be amended so it does not encroach on a small part of a public footpath.

Heaviest criticism was laid at the plan for on-street parking and loading bays at the development which was deemed ‘totally unacceptable’ by the local authority. These spaces must be deleted from the proposal and relocated within the curtilage of the site itself.

There must also be an upgrade of a laneway at the rear of the site to include a turning bay and provide a 1.5 metre footpath for pedestrians.

The building line of the development must not encroach oon the sight-lines from the nearby signal-controlled junction according to the local authority who also requested that details relating to the provision of social and affordable housing on the site should be submitted by the developer.

The planning file contains several submissions and objections from local individuals and groups, including the Portmarnock Community Association, St Annes and District Residents’ Association, Kathryn and Aidan McGowan and Maria and Philip Grant.

Whilst most objectors acknowledged the need for the redevelopment of the site and welcomed it in principle, they expressed concern over the proposed height of the development, the impact on traffic congestion and traffic safety and there was consistent concern expressed that there was an inadequate number of car-parking spaces provided in the proposal.

The local authority will now wait for a response to its request for additional information from the developer before delivering a decision on the proposal or asking for further clarification.

John Manning

Fingal Independent 16/08/2006