Local campaigners oppose Hermitage clinic expansion plans
HEALTH
Expansion plans by the Hermitage Medical Clinic, owned by Sean Mulryan and Larry Goodman among others, have run into opposition with planning campaigners and environmentalists, citing everything from dangers to bats to visual intrusion as reasons to block its further development.
The privately owned clinic is seeking to demolish some existing structures, build an extension, a new operating theatre and do other ancillary works.
But two local groups, the Lucan Planning Council and the Liffey Valley Park Alliance, are strongly objecting and the local authority, South Dublin County Council, has also sought more information on the traffic effects of further expansion.
A decision on the expansion of the site at the Old Lucan Road, Palmerstown, is due next month.
The Lucan Planning Council claims in letters sent to the county council that the site "has a long and chequered planning history". It claims some of the site should have have been transferred to public ownership under previous planning decisions, but this never happened.
It also claims an expansion would be "visually intrusive" on the Liffey valley and the development is contrary to sustainable development.
Liffey Valley Park Alliance, claims there would be an impact on species covered under the EU's Habitats Directive, including bats and otters.
However, South Dublin County Council has given planning permission before to the rapidly growing site.
Recently, it gave planning permission to Hermitage for 18 further suites for consultants, 50 additional parking spaces and ancillary accommodation as part of a €6m investment.
According to the last set of accounts, it was profitable to the tune of €3.9m, with the profit and loss account showing a modest rise in turnover. The accounts disclosed that developer Mr Mulryan had the majority of shares through his Ballymore Ireland group.
- Emmet Oliver
Irish Independent
