A planning application to build a 1,000-bed student residence in Dartry is to be revised after a fourth consecutive delay requested by Dublin Corporation.
The director of buildings at Trinity College, Mr Tim Cooper, confirmed yesterday that following consultation with corporation officials, the design team members had granted a further one-month extension to Dublin Corporation and were working on a revised plan.
The proposed halls of residence have already had three one-month delays imposed due to vociferous opposition from high-profile residents. More than 200 objections have been lodged with Dublin Corporation since the planning application was submitted on April 13th.
Mr Cooper said the revised plan, still at development stage but expected to be submitted to the corporation within a month, will differ from the original by proposing slightly smaller buildings around the perimeter of the Dartry site. Several buildings will be relocated in the new plan and the height of the central building on the development will probably be raised.
The revised plan will be advertised in national and local media and public submissions will be invited.
Mr Cooper said he thought the new plan would meet many of the concerns expressed by residents.
But the chairman of Dartry and District Residents' Association, Dr Tony Connellan, said he was pessimistic that residents would accept any new plan unless the sheer scale of the development was reduced. "We feel it will have a predominant impact on the area. Many residents would want people with a vested interest in the area to live here."
He went on: "Up at Queen's University in Belfast they have high-rise buildings on the Malone Road and it has really affected the residents and house values in the area. We are going for broke on this and will give it a good fight. We aim to preserve and maintain the integrity of the area."
The original plan to provide housing for over 1,000 students in the exclusive south Dublin suburb prompted many personalities to register their objections with the corporation. The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ms Mary Freehill, the Church of Ireland Archbishop, Dr Walton Empey, Ms Frances Fitzgerald TD of Fine Gael and An Taisce were among the principal objectors.