Plans to limit cars at new hospital ‘ambitious’ but achievable, says planner

Plans to limit the use of private cars by users of the new national children’s hospital are “ambitious” but achievable, according to the planning inspector’s report on the project.

"There is no other public healthcare site in the State as well served by public transport as St James's," planning inspector Tom Rabbette comments in his 293-page report on the project.

Mr Rabbette has approved the plans to build the hospital at St James’s, subject to 14 conditions.

Mr Rabbette says the hospital is a long awaited and much needed national strategic development that has the potential to adversely impact on the receiving environment.

The project developers have arrived at a proposal that keep the adverse impacts “within acceptable levels in my opinion” apart from the impact on the local architectural heritage from the demolition of a chapel and historic house.

He says the development has the potential to adversely impact local road traffic but the mitigation measures proposed should keep this to acceptable levels.

Campaigners against the siting of the project in St James’s had claimed it made too little provision for parking, and staff parking in particular, but Mr Rabbette says in his report:

“I accept that the modal split proposed for the use of the private car by staff is ambitious, but there is nothing on file to indicate that it is not achievable”.

Of all the sites considered over the planning process, no other site enjoys such connectivity and many would struggle to comply with national transport policies, according to Mr Rabbette.

“Notwithstanding this connectivity, those needing to access the services at the NCH by car will be accommodated. It is not the aim of the applicant to force those travelling with sick children to use public transport.

“The applicant has indicated that on-site car parking will be available for patients’ families and visitors if they required.”

Mr Rabbette says there will be significant positive physical impacts from the proposal at local level.

“The site at the moment is introverted, responds poorly to the surrounding public domain and does little for the urban environment. That will all change with the proposal.”

This oval-shaped ward block will provide “a local architectural landmark” and will be a positive contribution to the city skyscape at this location.

“The concerns raised by the Board in its refusal in relation to the application for the NCH at the Mater site do not pertain in this instance.”