Rose Barrett
Despite strenuous objections from leading retailers already operating at Blanchardstown Town Centre and considerable opposition from local residents’ groups, An Bord Pleanála (APB) has upheld Fingal County Council’s approval for 971 housing units in the Blanchardstown area.
The development entails 64 x three bed apartments, 422 x two beds, 368 x one beds and 117 studio apartments.
The owners of Blanchardstown Town Centre were approved last week for a €450m apartment scheme which will entail 971 apartments across seven blocks varying from one to 16 stories high on the White Carpark site at the popular town centre.
There will also be seven retail units to include a restaurant/café, a shop, office, gym, creche, mobility hub, community facility and a community place of worship.
Among those who appealed were current local retailers TK Maxx, Smyth’s Toys, Lifestyle Sports, Harvey Norman, Elvery’s and Woodie’s DIY along with residents’ groups from Whitestown and Huntstown Lawn. The residents recently staged a protest at Blanchardstown TC stated they have sought legal advice on the refusal of ABP to grant an oral hearing on the matter, and they are considering their options.
Blanche Retail Nominee which is linked to Goldman Sachs, the owners of the extensive shopping mall, proposed the multi-use development on the 6.6-hectare site.
Retailers were critical of the lack of consultation by the town centre’s owners and argued that retailers currently enjoyed good access and parking, and felt this would be compromised by the new development. Residents and retailers argued as to the excessive number of housing units approved, and the imposing height of the blocks therein, which contravenes the relative local area plan.
However, ABP upheld Fingal County Council’s decision to approve the application on the grounds that the development would be well served by transport services, social housing and community infrastructures, and further over-ruled the objections on scale and height.
FCC will purchase 97 housing units for almost €45m. Despite An Taisce also objecting to aspects of the development, and the loss of over 500 car parking spaces being another bone of contention for existing retailers, ABP held firm and upheld the planning permission in full.
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