An Taisce and local residents upset by decision

Residents and other parties who objected to the RDS development proposal expressed their disappointment yesterday at the decision…

Residents and other parties who objected to the RDS development proposal expressed their disappointment yesterday at the decision to grant permission.

Dr Diarmuid Ó Gráda, a planning consultant who represented the Anglesea Road Residents' Association, said the residents were very upset. There was no concern about the overall height of the blocks, and no conditions about this in the decision.

"There are also no conditions about the pattern of use in the offices. There is no restriction on the working hours in the offices, and they could be used for 24 hours, seven days a week."

He said there was also no condition about the construction working hours. "This means that the building work could go on non-stop over many months. The residents are very upset that the work could go on, and one would expect normally that a condition about building works be included in the planning decision."

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He added that the residents felt very strongly that the area should remain residential.

Ms Valerin O'Shea, of An Taisce, which also appealed, said while An Taisce welcomed the considerable reduction in the size of the office complex, the development contravened the zoning objective of the site.

"It will have a negative impact in the area, and in particular on the RDS grounds. The development prejudices the maintenance of the horse show in its present form by reducing the available open space."

An Taisce said there were no conditions imposed by An Bord Pleanála that required the RDS to retain the horse show on the site.

Fine Gael Dublin City councillor Ms Lucinda Creighton said the exclusion of one of the office blocks was of little comfort to those living in the area.

While they understood commercial realities, she said it was unacceptable that a development of this scale be imposed on an area which was not equipped with the infrastructure or parking facilities necessary to accommodate it. "Countless appeals were lodged by many residents. Despite all their efforts to make their voice heard, once again, it fell on deaf ears."