Last of the Ballymun Flats set for demolition

PLANNING permission has been granted for the demolition of the last three remaining blocks of flats in Ballymun.

Permission was granted to Ballymun Regeneration Ltd for demolition by mechanical means or controlled explosions of two eight storey blocks at Balbutcher Lane and 15 storey Plunkett Tower on Sillogue Road.

Each of the eight storey blocks contained 48 three bed, 24 two bed and 24 one bed flats, while Plunkett Tower had 90 flats divided equally between three bed, two bed and one bed units.

Dublin City Council say tenders have been invited for the blocks at Balbutcher Lane and they’re scheduled for demolition by the end of the year.

The demolition of Plunkett Tower is at the tender document stage and is due to be removed early in 2014. A decision on the method of demolition for any of the blocks will not be made until contractors have been appointed.

Recent demolitions have involved the removal of asbestos materials from the buildings and the stripping out of all flats.

The buildings were then demolished using a high reach excavator and conventional demolition excavators fitted with concrete pulverisers, buckets and rock breakers.

Former Balbutcher Lane resident, Noel Rock, who is now a Fine Gael representative, said he was concerned that there was no definite timeline for the demolition.

“Among the blocks that have received permission to be demolished are my own childhood home of 106 Balbutcher Lane,

? he said.

“And while I am sad to see the place I grew up on the chopping block, I am also well aware that many families – my own included – have been able to avail of much more appropriate family accommodation in recent times.

“However, my concern is that while this permission for demolition has now been received, there is no firm timeline in place. It seems as though while Ballymun Regeneration Limited is being wound down, the remaining bits of this project will continue to be pushed off indefinitely.

“I believe it is of utmost importance that the funding is found to bring this project to completion in the coming months.

“We need to get on with the work of creating a new Ballymun, and before we can do that, we need to make sure that this regeneration is complete.

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