A DECISION by An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for 63 residential units on the Oatlands Monastery site in Mount Merrion has been slammed by two Independent Southside politicians.
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, and Cllr Deirdre Donnelly, expressed their “shock” at the decision, despite significate opposition by the local community.
Last year the developers applied to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to develop the land-locked site but planning permission was refused.
A large number of objections to the proposal were submitted by residents and groups in Mount Merrion and the surrounding area.
Concerns included the demolition of a house in a cul-de-sac called Cherry Garth to gain access to the site.
However, the developer subsequently applied to An Bord Pleanála and the decision was announced a few days ago.
“The provision of much needed housing to local communities is far too important an issue to get wrong,” Minister Ross stated. “Recently I was pleased to secure funding for several urban development housing sites in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown.
“Community matters and it is important that families can access affordable housing in their locality.
“But housing is not just about bricks and mortar,” he added. “It’s also about infrastructure including schools, roads, sewage, preventions against flooding, healthcare, and social amenities. Consideration of all the above contributes to a decent quality of life for communities.
“This is why, although I very much recognise the ever-pressing need for increasing the number of available housing units in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown and the Greater Dublin Region as a whole, I do not support the development of 63 residential units on the Oatlands Monastery site.
“Last October I objected to this proposal on grounds of preservation of local heritage, school and medical services provisions, density and height concerns. These objections still stand.”
Cllr Deirdre Donnelly added: “I am very disappointed that this development has been given approval, despite the large number of objections from the public.
“DLRCC Planning Department refused permission for this last year. I feel that the residents in the area have been let down badly. There are a number of problems with this site. A house will be demolished on a cul-de-sac to make way for the entrance.
“I am also concerned that another planning application has been lodged for the entrance onto Cherry Garth on the grounds of Thornhill House.
“Both of these developments are a short distance from each other and would result in an additional 100 dwellings on this quiet cul-de-sac.
“This leads onto an extremely busy road (Lower Trees Road) that is heavily congested at peak hours. The infrastructure isn’t there to cope with this additional traffic.
“I am not opposed to new developments in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown but feel that this kind of proposal is unwarranted.
“We need to look at building more houses so that families can afford their own homes.
“I welcome large-scale developments such as Cherrywood where infrastructure is part of the process.”
A spokesperson for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said they did not want to comment.