Eight appeals to Burlington Hotel plan

AN TAISCE is one of eight parties to appeal developer Bernard McNamara’s proposal for a €1 billion redevelopment of a 5.4-acre site that includes the Burlington Hotel in Dublin 4.

In its appeal to the planning board, An Taisce criticises Dublin City Council for granting planning permission for the development saying it did not give “due consideration to proper planning and sustainable development”.

Developer Bernard McNamara, who bought the hotel for €288 million, was granted planning permission in May for a development of offices, retail space, leisure facilities and a medical centre. He also owns adjoining land that was formerly the headquarters of Allianz for which he paid around €100 million.

The first phase of the project will involve 27,871sq m (300,000sq ft) of office space on the Allianz portion of the site. The project will have a public plaza and garden. There would also be 185 residential units, 33,340sq m (358,868sq ft) of commercial office, a crèche, restaurant/wine bar and leisure centre.

One block, which will front Sussex Road and the Mespil Estate, will be part-six and part-eight storeys. A second block, fronting Burleigh Court and Mespil Road, will rise to seven storeys over double basement. A third office block, which will be facing Burlington Road, is to rise to eight storeys, with a recessed level at the eight floor and two partially recessed floors at the sixth and seventh floor.

An Taisce says a grant of permission would have “seriously negative impacts on the architectural setting of Burlington Road, Sussex Road, Leeson Street, and their environs”, and is in excess of the plot ratio considered suitable for the site. It says the planned scheme would negatively impact on residential amenities and fails to comply with the requirements for private open space in an apartment development and would have “negative repercussions on other areas of the city zoned for office development”.

Another appeal from residents of nearby Burleigh Court says the development would have a “detrimental impact” on residents of Burleigh Court II, and the height and location of the block nearest them would cause overshadowing and overlooking. It asks that An Bord Pleanála overturn Dublin City Council’s decision to grant planning permission “or at a minimum” ensure that the overall development “be seriously reduced in scale and height”.

Manahan Planners lodged an appeal on behalf of Derry and Gemma Hussey and others, all residents of a listed terrace of houses on Burlington Road facing the hotel site. It says the eight-storey office building facing their homes would be “visually dominant” and would overpower the protected structures “contrary to the stated aim of the council”.

It says that, while the existing office buildings across the road are “an incongruous feature” on Burlington Road, there is “at present a certain, harmonious relationship between our client’s properties and the office building facing them” and the proposal “seeks to shatter that relationship”.

It also says the proposed development will generate more traffic, a greater demand for parking and “will add to traffic congestion on the adjoining streets and in particular Burlington Road”.