Charmside, the company associated with Treasury Holdings which is currently awaiting a decision from An Bord Pleanβla on the redevelopment of the former Rowntree factory site opposite Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin 8, has lodged a new planning application for the site.
The surprise move is, however, not likely to appease the considerable local opposition as it is for a slightly larger development than the original.
Despite the strenuous local objections to the initial application for a 53,000 m sq development which would overlook the historic Gaol which dates from the late 1700s, Dublin Corporation granted planning permission for a modified version last February.
The modifications, including the removal of one floor from one of the blocks, were not enough for the locals and the permission was was quickly appealed to An Bord Pleanβla by objectors who claimed the support of more than 2,000 separate individuals and gr oups.
They submitted that the pivotal corner site is in an historic area and high density modern development would be out of sympathy with a number of buildings in the immediate area. These include the Richmond Guard House (1811); the Royal Hospital (1684); Kil-mainham Courthouse (early 1800s) and the Irish National War Memorial park which was designed by Edward Lutyens in the 1930s.
Those who lodged submissions to An Bord Pleanβla included The Friends of Kilmainham Gaol, the Board of Visitors to Kilmainham Gaol, Mary Upton TD, and the Inchicore Road Residents and St. Johns Terrace Residents associations.
However while an oral hearing into that case is still expected, Charmside submitted a new application last month.
In this latest application, Block C has been increased in size by one storey to become a four-storey block, located behind Spencer Terrace. The total floor area of the latest proposal for the development now stands at 55,902 m sq, of which 55,855 m sq would be new build.
Also envisaged are three blocks rising from three to six storeys. This time they plan offices, shops, a creche and tourist office as part of the development. The developers have also "tidied up" the application according to the Corporation, by applying for a change of designation from industrial to mixed-use.
The Corporation acknowledges that its decision to grant permission for the original scheme was not popular locally. It is particularly difficult for the Corporation in that it is trying to encourage local participation in its consultative process on the Kilmainham Inchicore Integrated Area Plan (IAP).
According to the IAP project manager, Ms Mary Taylor, however, the new development meets the IAP target of attracting new employment into the area as part of the rejuvenation process. She said the IAP could achieve much in cooperation with the local community and added that new street furniture for Inchicore village would be installed before the end of the year.
