Ronan docklands project under fire from residents

Objections: developer Johnny Ronan faces opposition to plans to expand the Spencer Place Development scheme

Gordon Deegan

March 26 2019 02:30 AM

Plans by developer Johnny Ronan to increase the scale of a residential and aparthotel development in Dublin's docklands are being opposed by a number of local residents.

Last month, Mr Ronan's Spencer Place Development Co Ltd lodged plans to add 122 residential units and 27 aparthotel rooms to the development.

If granted, it would give Mr Ronan's firm planning permission to construct 471 residential units and a 127-bedroom aparthotel.

The development is currently under construction and is due to be complete in 2020.

However, seven locals have objected including Tony and Hilda McDonnell of Upper Mayor Street who have told the city council that permission must be refused as the application goes against the objectives of the North Lotts Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) planning scheme.

Resident at New Wapping Street, Catherine Byrne has also called on the council to refuse planning permission. Ms Byrne has asked the council to maintain its North Lotts SDZ planning scheme and not jeopardise the achievement of the scheme's objectives. Local resident, Christopher Flynn said "it looks like we are to be surrounded by high buildings all around us in the near future".

John Spain Associates, on behalf of Spencer Place Development, told the council that the SDZ planning scheme which allows for six to seven storeys on the site "is a direct contradiction to National Planning Policy guidance which seeks to promote development in key urban sites adjacent to high-quality public transport networks".

Mr Spain says the guidelines in effect put in place a presumption in favour of higher buildings at public transport nodes.

He adds that the opportunity to apply the national planning policies initiative to the site by increasing heights and densities "is essential to the overall sustainable development of the area and significantly contributing to the residential provision in the area".