Record 127 appeals on Ballsbridge scheme

A RECORD number of planning appeals have been made to An Bord Pleanála against developer Seán Dunne's plans for a residential and commercial complex, which includes a 37-storey tower, on the site of the former Jurys and Berkeley Court hotels in Ballsbridge, Dublin.

The board said it has received 127 appeals, at a cost of €220 to each appellant in relation to Mr Dunne's plans, which have been the cause of significant controversy in the Ballsbridge area.

Local residents and city councillors have expressed strong opposition to the plans. An Bord Pleanála said yesterday that it had never before received so many appeals against a development, although a number of submissions were supportive. A significant number of staff were working to process the appeals and, the board said, it hoped to issue a decision by July 28th.

Mr Dunne's plans have generated huge attention since he paid €379 million for the two properties of 2005. Councillors advised planners to reject his application on the grounds that the 37-storey tower, and several other tall buildings on the site including an 18-storey block, were out of keeping with the residential area.

Last month the council's planners rejected the 37-storey building but granted permission for the bulk of the rest of the scheme including the 18-storey element; 294 apartments, a 232-bedroom hotel, a shopping centre, an embassy building, cultural centre and a creche were also approved.

Mr Dunne is himself one of the appellants to An Bord Pleanála. Determined to get permission for his 37-storey "landmark building", he put a scale model on display in the former Berkeley Court Hotel (now trading as D4 Hotels) last month and said he intended to appeal the full project.

If the board's decision meant the project was not economically viable "it would be unlikely to proceed in any form", Mr Dunne said.

Previously the most contentious project to come before the board was the meat and bonemeal incinerator planned for Rosegreen, Co Tipperary, in 2003, although the board was unable yesterday to provide exact numbers of objections in that case. Animal rendering company Ronan Industries abandoned its plans because of the "serious divisions" the facility had created in the local community.

The board said it has received more objector letters to road developments. However, these were distinct from appeals, and largely related to compulsory purchase orders for the land needed and in these cases there was no charge to lodge an objection.

Green Party TD Ciarán Cuffe urged the council to show restraint over high-rise schemes, and focus on "well-designed, medium-density developments".