An application aimed at “swiftly” extending passenger numbers at Dublin Airport to 36 million per year has been ruled invalid by planners.
Rejecting the move, Fingal County Council issued a statement describing filing shortfalls by airport management DAA as “a matter of great concern”, bringing an abrupt halt to the efforts.
DAA, which had applied to extend the maximum passenger number by four million from 32 million in December, said it was “baffled and bewildered” by the development.
It had hoped the application could “move swiftly through the planning system” as it does not seek permission to build infrastructure, extensive amounts of which are contained in a separate planning process.
It was intended as an interim solution to the ongoing cap impasse, imposed as part of an earlier planning agreement, while a separate application to increase numbers to 40 million is considered.
[ Slew of submissions against increasing Dublin Airport passenger capOpens in new window ]
However, in an unexpected move on Tuesday evening, the local authority said it had “informed the DAA that their application to raise the capacity of Dublin Airport to 36 million passengers per annum is invalid”.
It said the application failed to comply with three separate articles of the 2001 Planning and Development Regulations.
These generally relate to information contained in applications that obscures, rather than clarifies, the extent of a proposed development; which contains regulatory noncompliance; inadequate and ambiguous information; and concerns that the nature and extent of a proposed development goes beyond its factual description.
“It is also invalid because the proposed description of the development in the public notices is non-compliant with the relevant regulations and is inadequate and misleading,” the local authority said.
“It is a matter of great concern to the planning authority that such a significant planning application is invalid. Pre-planning is available to assist applicants but did not take place for this application.”
Independent councillor Cathal Boland, who has expressed concerns about airport development, said he most recently raised the issue of questionable DAA planning applications at a council meeting on Monday.
“The management of the DAA has a lot to answer for,” he said shortly after Tuesday night’s development. “[in terms of] making bad applications.”
The St Margaret’s The Ward community group which represents concerned residents in the vicinity of the airport welcomed the decision which it said highlights DAA’s “disregard for proper planning and sustainable development”.
“Communities affected by the airport deserve transparency and accountability, not attempts to push through flawed applications. We call on DAA to respect planning regulations and engage meaningfully with local residents to pursue balanced and sustainable growth.”
Responding on Tuesday night, DAA said it was “baffled and bewildered by this bizarre flip-flop”, adding that planners had twice confirmed the validity of its “no build” application on December 23rd and January 6th, before contradicting that position in its media statement.
It said its straightforward application was intended to “provide a short-term solution to the planning cap impasse but FCC refuses to be pragmatic about this issue of national importance, despite allowing for 40 million in its own development plan.
“This ‘snakes and ladders’ approach to planning shows why decisions about Dublin Airport should be made at a national level by ABP [An Bord Pleanala] and not locally by FCC.”
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