THE developers of a proposed £40 million refurbishment of the Smithfield area of Dublin are to appeal to An Bord Pleanala over planning conditions applied to the scheme.
The corporation has granted planning permission for the scheme, the largest ever proposed for the markets area of the city but the developers regard the conditions as too restrictive.
The mixed development planned for the former Jameson distillery site in Smithfield is also likely to be appealed by the Markets Area Combined Residents' Organisation (MACRO) and by An Taisce.
The corporation's decision, which is subject to 20 detailed conditions, would require the scheme by architects A+D Wejchert to be radically redesigned.
Mr Terry Devey, of Heritage Properties Ltd, which bought the largely derelict 2.3 acre distillery site last year for more than £2 million, could not be reached yesterday for comment.
Apart from its substantial residential content, the scheme includes provision for a 180 seat theatre, an art gallery, sculpture court and distillery museum, as well as almost 50,000 square feet of small scale commercial units.
The corporation has ruled that a proposed panoramic lift and viewing platform on the Jameson chimney stack, a landmark in the area for 100 years, should be the subject of a separate planning application because it is a listed structure.
The planners want the half demolished stone wall on the Bow Street frontage of the site to be rebuilt in its entirety, whereas the architects sought to treat it as an archaeological remnant. They also want the distillery like towers to be reduced in height.
The developers have also been asked to pay a levy of £106,125 towards unspecified works carried out by Dublin Corporation which would facilitate the scheme, and a further unspecified contribution towards drainage improvement.
An Taisce has conceded that the scheme is "of significant architectural quality", but it was against planning permission being granted because of the precedent it would set for "Secondrate schemes" in and around Smithfield, in the absence of a coherent action plan.
The corporation's failure to produce an action plan, despite Smithfield's designation as a rejuvenation area over eight years ago, was also condemned by Ms Emer O Siochru, of Community Technical Aid, which is advising the local residents' association, MACRO.
She also complained that there had been no meaningful consultation with the community in the area.
"The planning department say they will set up a steering group only after they've drawn up a plan. They even insulted us by saying they were the sole authority for the area," she said.
"What we have proposed is a partnership between the community, business interests in the area and the corporation instead, what we're getting is a haphazard response to plans coming from the private sector.
