Planning refused for extension to Liffey Valley centre

Plans for a €150 million extension to Liffey Valley shopping centre have been refused after it was ruled it would worsen traffic congestion on Dublin’s M50.

An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for the extension that would have increased the centre's size by 50 per cent, and included what would have been Ireland's first 2,500-seat Olympic-sized indoor ice arena.

The skating rink was part of a mixed leisure, entertainment, commercial and retail extension in three integrated structures, with capacity for 60 extra stores, organised around a large public plaza.

Up to 450 full-time and part-time jobs were to be created upon completion, as well as 225 construction jobs during the development phase, that would have brought the total number employed in the centre to more than 2,500.

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Negative impact

However, the appeals board ruled the proposal would cause “serious traffic congestion” in the area. It said it could not be satisfied that the proposal would not have a negative impact on the operation and safety of the strategic road network in the area, in particular the M50 and the N4.

In refusing planning permission, An Bord Pleanála has upheld the concerns in appeals against the South Dublin County Council decision to grant permission by An Taisce and the Moriarty Group, which operates three SuperValu supermarkets at Balbriggan, Skerries and Palmerstown and two hotels.

In its appeal An Taisce's heritage officer Ian Lumley said: "This is a car-based retail development adding significantly to an already problematic car-dependent location."