Public campaign over Dublin estate

A campaign against the sale of land to developers by one of Dublin's last remaining urban farms, the Airfield Trust in Dundrum, has led to more than 700 submissions being sent to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.Almost 60 per cent of all submissions received by the council in the current draft development plan were made in relation to Airfield.

The vast majority of these call for the estate to be zoned open space rather than residential.

However, in spite of local opposition, the trust has indicated it intends to press ahead with the sale of three acres of the property to finance future developments.

The trust, which was set up in 1993 to administer the estate and wishes of the late Letitia and Naomi Overend, is to hold a press conference today to explain its plans for the 35-acre site.

The Overend sisters lived most of their lives on the estate, which today embraces a farm and gardens, a restaurant, educational programmes and arts and crafts courses. The trust has assets of €12 million and is largely financed from €400,000 annual investment income.

According to a briefing document prepared by the trust, Airfield is not financially viable at present because of its "broad cost base", and the trustees are "obliged" to take action.

The need for additional capital led to the decision to sell the three acres known as Dudley's Field, which is described as "somewhat peripheral" to the estate.

"Of course, Airfield will explore the alternative possibility of public funding but this will need to be settled in the near future," the document says.

"The proceeds of the sale of these three acres should provide permanent security for the remaining 30 acres.

"There are no plans (and never had been) to sell any other part of the estate."

The trust says any development on this land "may" only be one or two storeys in height; however, opponents of the sale say the "neighbourhood centre" zoning being sought involves no height limitation and is likely to result in the construction of multi-storey apartment blocks.

The decision to seek residential zoning for much of the rest of the property is defended on the basis that "the prudence required of trustees means they must also consider the possibility that Airfield's current plans cannot be realised".

Council planners had recommended that much of the estate be zoned open space but councillors reversed this to residential after receiving submissions from Airfield.

The trustees say they have decided against the option of "cutting back" by leaving Airfield as a city farm with limited activities.

Instead, they plan to broaden the educational and recreational activities currently offered and to cater for more visitors from a wider range of backgrounds.

"The trustees feel that Airfield must do this building on the strengths it already has, especially the unique advantages of its position and ambience of open space and being an oasis in a highly urbanised area."

A firm of ecological architects, Solearth, has been engaged to draw up a masterplan for the development of the estate. These plans are currently on display in Airfield House.

Meanwhile, a meeting to discuss development at Airfield has been called for Monday, February 23rd, at 8 p.m. in the Dom Marmion centre in Dundrum.