An Bord Pleanala and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have been accused of "spreading confusion" over their attitude to the preservation of Dun Laoghaire, Monkstown and Seapoint.
The accusation, which was made by the Monkstown, Salthill and Seapoint Residents' Association, follows the refusal of planning permission for demolition of three separate mews buildings at Monkstown Crescent, a noted landmark in the area.
While the residents are in favour of preserving the crescent they insist that the decisions to refuse permission make little sense when viewed against the approval for a large two-storey office block currently under construction at number 16A in the centre of the crescent.
The planning permission for number 16A, which was originally granted in March 1999, allowed the erection of a two-storey plus mezzanine building with a semi-basement car-park.
The residents' main concern was the height and scale of the building which they feared would dwarf adjoining buildings and dominate the skyline in an area designated for conservation.
The development was bitterly opposed by the residents and conservation groups who also maintained that it was out of character, but the development was upheld on appeal and construction work is currently underway.
According to Mr Stephen Devaney, spokesman for the residents' association, the situation has led to confusion over the local authority's intentions towards its Regency heritage.
According to Mr Devaney, the three recent decisions would appear to suggest that the planning authorities wished to conserve the crescent as it stands, but he maintained that this County Development Plan says it is important to avoid abrupt transitions in scale and to avoid development which would be detrimental to the amenities of a more sensitive zone such as the Regency terraces around Monkstown.
Now, however, Mr Devaney says the council's new housing strategy is adding to the confusion, increasing housing densities along the railway line.
"Much of the built heritage of the area is along the DART line, the Regency terraces and the increase in density would mean that you could have large scale office and residential blocks sitting adjacent to these older terraces. It seems the only way you can solve their housing crisis is to utilise a railway, which is a heritage item in itself."
Mr Devaney suggested that the new housing strategy and its attendant zoning density increases are at odds with the conservation demands also contained in the County Development Plan. They would, he said, lead to further confusion. The residents are also concerned that a plan for the regeneration of coastal areas between Booterstown and Sandycove has seen little progress.
The county council advertised for submissions on the plan in December 2000 and the Monkstown, Seapoint and Salthill Resident's Association made a 115-page submission.
