DEVELOPER AND hotelier Seán Dunne could be forced to close his latest venture, a supermarket at the site of his D4 Hotels in Ballsbridge, following a warning letter from Dublin City Council.
The new supermarket, D4 Stores, is being run by Mr Dunne’s wife, Gayle, in the former Jurys hotel. Ms Dunne said the shop is a low-cost supermarket with good parking and is badly needed in the area.
However, the city council yesterday issued a letter warning that the supermarket did not fall within the planning permission for the site and that enforcement proceedings could follow.
In order to comply with the planning regulations, Mr Dunne would have to apply to the council for “change of use” permission to change the hotel to a supermarket. However it is unlikely that permission would be granted as the site is zoned “Z1 - Residential” which allows a small-scale local shop, but not a supermarket.
In a statement yesterday, the council said an inspector had visited the site earlier this week following a complaint and that a warning letter had subsequently been issued. The recipient had four weeks to respond to the letter, it said.
If a response is not received, or if the council feels the response is inadequate, it can then issue enforcement proceedings directing that the supermarket be closed. “Failure to comply with the enforcement notice may result in the council taking legal proceedings against the owner,” it said.
Labour city councillor Kevin Humphreys, who made the complaint to the council planners, said it was essential that proper planning procedures were followed.
A spokeswoman for Mr Dunne said yesterday that no letter had yet been received from the council and he would not be making a statement before he had received any correspondence.
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