Row over merits of new village plan

THE development of three new villages, and a town centre on the Southside will severely impact on Dun Laoghaire, Shankill and Glasthule where existing retailers are already struggling to stay afloat, it has been claimed.

Proposals for the new Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) at Cherrywood, which were on display until recently, will now be considered by local councillors.

The Draft Planning Scheme for the SDZ outlines plans for the development of a 360 hectare area. The scheme, which has been drafted by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, would consist of three new villages, served by a town centre.

Announcing the plans in 2010, the then Minister for Planning, Ciarán Cuffe, said the proposals would ensure that proper facilities would be developed near homes that would be built in the area.

However, Dun Laoghaire TD Mary Mitchell O’Connor (FG), maintains that the proposal could have a negative impact on retail outlets in areas where existing retailers are struggling to stay afloat.

“Too often we have seen the development of areas in isolation without any real reference to surrounding towns and settlements,

? she said.

“The effects of the recession are already evident on the main streets of these towns with many retail outlets and offices closed down.

“Retailers argue, with conviction, that this development will draw customers from their towns and villages, especially at weekends, compounding an already difficult trading environment.

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She added:

“Consideration must also be given to how a major population move to Cherrywood will impact on house prices and school pupil numbers in the already established centres.

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The Green Party spokesman on planning and former county councillor, Tom Kivlehan, rejected Deputy O’Connor’s assertion that the SDZ would harm existing businesses in nearby areas.

“That whole area is going to have 25,000 to 35,000 people living in it,

? he stated.

“It will have a town centre in it for each of the communities up there. These would have a little village centre like Cabinteely.

“They are not here to compete against the likes of Dalkey or Bray. They are there to cater for the community that is going to be built there. The last thing you want is for people in these communities having to drive all over the place to get to their local shop.

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Mr Kivlehan noted that some Fine Gael councillors voted in February last year to rezone a nearby site at the Park Village in Carrickmines. The rezoning upgraded the site from a neighbourhood centre to a district centre, which allows for considerably more retail space.

Some councillors had argued at the time that the Carrickmines site, which already has some retail stores, would be a more suitable site for further development.

“What I would say is that instead of complaining about Cherrywood [Deputy Mitchell O’Connor] should actually look at what happened a year and a half ago when councillors in her own party sought to increase the size of retailing up in Carrickmines,

? Mr Kivlehan added.

“That, in fact, would put more warehouse retailing in there and would compete with Dun Laoghaire and Ballybrack and her own party voted for that.

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In response, Deputy Mitchell O’Connor pointed out that when she was formerly a county councillor she voted against the motion in 2010 to rezone the Carrickmines site.

“I did not vote to increase retailing capacity in Carrickmines for the same reason that I have raised objections to the development of Cherrywood,

? she argued.

“I believed it would negatively impact on the surrounding regions.

“Also, I am interested to know where the figure of 25,000- 35,000 people to live in this new development is derived from and more importantly where Cllr Kivlehan believes these people are going to come from.

“I do see the merit [in the SDZ], down the line, when there is renewed demand and vibrancy in the housing market, but right now I feel it is premature.

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