The €100 million partial demolition and rejuvenation of Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre in Dublin has been stalled by an Athlone-based objector.
Oliver Donoghue lodged a third-party appeal with An Coimisiún Pleanála against Dublin City Council’s decision last week to grant planning permission to DTDL Ltd for the contentious project.
The plans attracted more than 60 submissions, with most opposed to the redevelopment. Donoghue’s appeal is set to be the first of a number to be lodged before the May 18th closing date.
The proposed redevelopment will have capacity for 3,000 office workers and 19,000sq m (204,500 sq ft) of retail floor space.
RM Block
In his objection against the centre, Donoghue of Moydrum, Athlone, Co Westmeath, said “we don’t want our history erased”.
In his appeal document lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála, Donoghue said the permitted scheme, with a gross floor area of approximately 87,158sq m – a substantial net increase over the existing development – “represents excessive intensification of a constrained inner-city site”.
He said the scale and density of the scheme prioritised commercial yield over coherent urban design and spatial quality.
Donoghue said the permitted increase in height – reaching up to eight storeys – would disrupt the established skyline of the historic core, visually compete with protected structures and established landmark buildings, and introduce undue visual dominance in long and short-range views.
He contended that the development would adversely affect the visual enclosure and character of St Stephen’s Green, introduce an overly bulky and commercial frontage, and diminish the architectural coherence of its surrounding streetscape.
Donoghue added that the dominance of office floor space represented an over-concentration of a single use within a prime city-centre location.
He said this approach undermined the vitality and diversity of the city core and weakened the traditional retail, cultural and civic function of the area.
If the council decision is upheld, it risks incremental erosion of historic character and progressive increases in building height and bulk, he added.
In recommending planning permission, the council planner’s report noted that “the deep retrofit of the Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre will result in an improved visitor and retailer experience associated with the centre”.
