Plan to delist 500 buildings defended

The Dublin city manager has rejected calls for the retention of about 500 buildings on the record of protected structures.

In a report on submissions made on the Dublin Draft Development Plan which was given to councillors this week, Mr John Fitzgerald said the buildings which are proposed for deletion from the overall record of 9,500 structures are "predominantly modest brick buildings which are not considered to be special".

He said the deletions were necessary to ensure the record conformed to the requirements of new planning legislation. It was "generally accepted" that the record contained buildings that do not have the necessary "special characteristics" to merit continued inclusion on the list, he said.

Areas where houses have been delisted include St Lawrence Road and Hollybrook Road in Clontarf, Belmont Avenue in Donnybrook and Aungier Street in the city centre.

However, Mr Fitzgerald reversed one decision; it is now proposed that No 122 St Lawrence Road be retained on the list, because Arthur Griffith lived there.

He also recommended the addition to the record of No 56 O'Connell Street, because of its significance to the corner of O'Connell Street and Bachelor's Walk.

Mr Fitzgerald's response is contained in a 320-page report on submissions received by the council on the draft plan. The new council has 12 weeks to consider the draft plan and the manager's responses. An amended plan will then be prepared and put on display. The final plan for 2005-2011 will be adopted early in 2005.

The proposed delisting of buildings accounts for several hundred of the 755 submissions received. Most of these expressed opposition to the move, with some claiming it could pave the way for the demolition of the buildings.

However, a minority supported the change, largely because of the planning and legal difficulties in making alterations to protected structures.

In recognition of these latter submissions, Mr Fitzgerald has proposed easing restrictions on the owners of protected buildings who wish to use their front gardens for car parking.

The Irish Georgian Society, which opposed the delisting, made an inventory of many of the affected buildings.

However, Mr Fitzgerald said this was "unsatisfactory" because the architectural importance of the buildings had not been rated.

In the report, the manager confirms that Dublin's total housing requirement for the period 2003 to 2010 will be about 40,000. The requirement for social and affordable housing will be "well in excess of" 40 per cent.

Mr Fitzgerald has rejected a submission from the Courts Service calling for the creation of a "Markets/Legal" precinct around the Four Courts.

On play facilities, he says the council should strive to provide a playground in all its public parks.