Bord Pleanála approves Metro

An Bord Pleanála has approved plans to build a light rail system from Dublin's city centre to Swords.

The scheme is approved from the Estuary stop in Swords to St Stephen’s Green and included an underground link from the city centre to Ballymun where it will cross the M50 on a flyover bridge.

Significant conditions have been attached to the ruling and three of the stations initially proposed have been refused planning permission. The depot, stop and strategic park and ride facility at Belinstown, the stop at Lissenhall and at Seatown will not be developed.

An Bord Peanála said it considered a depot and headquarters at Lissenhall "would not perform well in strategic transport terms compared with other alternatives available in the vicinity of the airport". It said the fact it would be at the end of the line meant it was "more likely to result in inefficient empty running of metro vehicles and extended travel for staff".

In the ruling, An Bord Pleanála said Belinstown is at a "considerable distance" from Dublin airport or Swords and "would not represent the optimal location for long term efficient economic and environmentally sustainable operation of the rail service".

Permission to build a stop at Seatown was refused as the stops serving Swords "provide an adequate level of service to the town without compromising the service levels of Metro North or future development of the town".

In the interests of visual amenity and public safety, the Drumcondra stop has to be agreed in writing with the Planning Authority before starting the development of this element of the scheme. Some elements of the stop at Swords and O'Connell St are to be reviewed "in the interests of pedestrian safety and free-flow".

The detailed designs of each stop within the administrative area of Fingal County Council are to be submitted to that planning authority for written agreement.

Building will proceed once the Government approves a cost benefit analysis study of the project.

Several city businesses have called on the Government to cancel the project or postpone it until the economy recovers.

Businessman Colm Carroll, who owns nine gift shops in the city centre, has recently launched No To Metro North, a campaign to stop the project that he said would “rip the whole city apart”, costing thousands of jobs and closing firms.