Stillorgan Centre plan challenged

A major redevelopment plan for Stillorgan Shopping Centre in south Co Dublin was challenged yesterday.

At a Bord Pleanala appeal hearing in Dun Laoghaire, a number of residents' associations, schools, community groups and the owners of Dundrum Shopping Centre criticised the size and scale of the proposed redevelopment, which seeks to replace the present single storey structure with four storeys over basement level.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Council granted planning permission for the 74,815 square metre redevelopment earlier this year. Included is permission for 28,424 square metres of retail space, redesigned shopping malls, car parking on five levels, redesigned entrances and exit, new service areas, advertising structures and the demolition of some of the existing units.

The permission also allows for the creation of a new library in the centre and a public park on the overflow car-park at Lower Kilmacud Road.

The seven-acre site at the junction of the Lower Kilmacud and Stillorgan roads was developed in the early 1960s and is credited with being Ireland's first shopping centre.

Addressing the hearing yesterday, Mr Brian Turner of the Woodlands Residents' Association said his group had eight separate grounds of appeal. These ranged from the visual impact of the proposed development on their houses, which are adjacent to the centre, to noise, traffic and air pollution.

In the course of his evidence, Mr Turner disputed traffic volumes predicted by the environmental impact assessment associated with the project, and he called for an independent assessment of these.

He was supported by a town planner, Mr John Spain, who said he represented the Irish Pension Fund Property Unit Trust, owners of the Dundrum Shopping Centre.

A representative of Oatlands College Parents' Association, Ms Patricia Molumby, said 800 schoolchildren used the Stillorgan Road and parents were greatly worried about traffic from the centre.

Mr Noel Tallen of the Allen Park Residents' Association said he took exception to a reference in the environmental impact assessment that a three decibel increase in noise volumes would not be significant because of existing volumes in the area.

"Who formed that opinion and would they like to explain it?" he asked.

Mr Chris Deegan told the appeal hearing that he lived in St Laurence Park, opposite the proposed development, on the Stillorgan Road.

"We are the people of Lilliput compared to this monstrosity," he said, adding that his family wanted to remain in the area because grandparents on both sides lived there.

"But we are concerned about the health and safety of our children and our quality of life."

In a submission, the Fine Gael spokeswoman on Dublin transport, Ms Olivia Mitchell, who is a member of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Council representing the Stillorgan ward, said the proposed development was not good planning.

"The designation of towns is not just aspirational," she said. "Existing recreational activities which are also traffic attractions, such as Glenalbyn Sports Centre, the bowling alley and the cinemas, can live happily with the shopping centre only if the centre is kept to the same scale. This proposal for the centre would jeopardise all the other users of Stillorgan."

The appeal hearing continues tomorrow.