Blanchardstown residents who live adjacent to a proposed 16 storey development of 971 apartments in Blanchardstown Centre have expressed “disgust”’ at the refusal of An Bord Pleanala to grant an Oral Hearing on the development.
Ruth Coppinger, Former TD for the area and who made an appeal with residents, said:
“It looks like giant vulture funds can ride roughshod over local residents without any checks by the planning system.
“We have a severe housing crisis but it doesn’t mean steamrolling large scale quick buck rental over people with no amendment.
“An Oral Hearing would at least be a chance for the local community to raise issues and seek changes to what is – by anyone’s standard – a major development in one of the country’s major centres.
“If granted, Goldman Sachs will be the biggest landlord in Blanchardstown and a large player in the capital and turning a retail shopping centre into a new town with this and other planned developments. How can ABP not listen to residents’ views on the impact ?
“This is about the nature of the housing — unaffordable, quick buck rental for profit — as well as issues such as traffic and overshadowing of council tenants in adjacent two storey housing.
“ABP has discretion under Section134(3) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 regarding Oral Hearings.
“I’m seeking legal advice as to how they could refuse and the way they’ve done it.
“The website of An Bord Pleanala says Oral Hearings are held for appeal cases ‘where significant national, regional or local issues’ arise.
“How is a development of 971 apartments at 16 storeys not a ‘significant local issue’ ?
“ABP also charge a fee to request an Oral Hearing — but then issue a paragraph after four months to justify their decision.
“Residents protested at Blanchardstown shopping centre last Saturday.
“They rang and mailed the Bord this week having heard nothing for four months, — only to be sent an email today refusing a hearing and saying they’ll issue their decision in the next days.”