Locals seek review of Bulloch Harbour planning decision

THE Bulloch Harbour Preservation Association (BHPA) is to seek a Judicial Review of the decision by An Bord Pleanála to give the green light for a controversial planning development .

The board recently gave Bartra Property permission to build a number of housing units at the popular Southside amenity.

Locals have maintained opposition to the plan that would consist of three three-storey houses, two apartments and a cafe as well as a number of other buildings being built near the harbour.

There was some local shock and consternation at the decision with local People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett describing it as “incomprehensible”.

“Bulloch Harbour is a unique public amenity used by people of all ages. It is an important part of the heritage of south County Dublin, ” he said.

“The proposed development will effectively turn the harbour into a private area with part of the seafront area being effectively privatised and used as the front gardens for the new homes.”

Frank Dillon, a member of the BHPA, raised the point that storm damage to the harbour during Storm Emma had posed questions regarding suitability of the site for the development

In March of last year, the storm battered the harbour as waters threatened the top of the quay.

“There were three-ton blocks of stone tossed around like pieces of Lego,” Mr Dillon said. “There was considerable damage done to the harbour itself with repair work still ongoing.

“It raises the question of who would buy these new apartments which would be valued in their millions and who would insure them.

“This also raises the possibility of them becoming white elephants sitting there unoccupied, as a result.”

The demolition of existing sheds and the construction of a boat building and storage facilities are included in the plans. It will also incorporate a “marine leisure” building, changing rooms and a cafe. There will be a seafood premises, four “fishermen’s huts” and a public square.

The residential aspect will include two 160 square metre apartments and three, three storey detached houses measuring 412 square metres apiece, each with roof terraces.

In a new announcement the Bullock Harbour Preservation Association said the proposed construction by Bartra Property Dublin Ltd had been overwhelmingly rejected by local people, harbour users, public representatives and public bodies.

The association also said the plan was comprehensively refused planning permission by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and ejected on several grounds by An Bord Pleanála’s own Planning Inspector, only to be ignored by the board itself which then granted planning permission. 

“We need to overturn the the decision of An Bord Pleanala to grant planning permission for the Bartra development at Bullock Harbour and our only option is to seek a judicial review in the High Court,” the association stated last week.

“The High Court is the only body that has the power to quash a decision by a public body such as ABP. 

“This is a huge undertaking but it is essential if we are to stop Bartra. We are encouraged by the massive support given to this campaign. And we are encouraged by other planning campaigns elsewhere that have successfully engaged in Judicial Review.

“We will be writing again to explain what a Judicial Review is. We note, however, that this is an expensive course of action and there is an immediate need for very substantial funds. We know that many people contributed financially to the previous stages of the campaign but we now have to ask for more donations.

“We will be posting again very soon to explain how to give. We welcome all contributions small and large. If you are not able to give in direct cash, we will suggest how you could otherwise help.”

The association outlined how they would need to raise finance to cover the legal cost of challenging the decision and have asked for donations of €10, €50, €1,000 – “or as much as you can afford”.

In a statement on their website, Bartra said it noted the decision of An Bord Pleanala to grant planning permission for the proposed development at Bulloch Harbour in Dalkey.

Bartra said it was currently studying the detail of the board’s decision. Mike Flannery CEO adds: “The decision marks a positive day for Bulloch Harbour and Bartra looks forward to enhancing the environs (of the harbour) on the back of this decision.”