Controversial construction project near St Anne's Park will be decided following the withdrawal of legal objections
The long-standing controversy surrounding the proposed 580-apartment and nursing home scheme in St Anne's Park, Raheny, Dublin, is set to reach a significant milestone next month. An Coimisiún Pleanála, the planning appeal board, is now set to rule on the contentious project following the withdrawal of the judicial review proceedings by Mr Crean's company[1][2].
The withdrawal of the legal challenge has lifted the stay on the planning appeal, allowing the planning authority to proceed with its decision on the development. The decision comes after Mr Crean's Raheny 3 Limited Partnership appealed the refusal of permission for the LRD scheme to An Bord Pleanála in November 2022[3].
Local Green Party councillor Donna Cooney anticipates that the planning commission will uphold the city council's decision to refuse permission for the 580 apartments and nursing home, citing concerns about the use of the land by light-bellied Brent geese[4].
The 16.5-acre site, formerly part of St Paul's College at Sybil Hill, has been a contentious land bank in Dublin since 2015[5]. The city council refused permission for the scheme due to these concerns, and councillors later voted to block any further applications for large-scale housing developments on the site by zoning it for open space under the new Dublin City Development Plan[6].
Marlet, a company owned by Pat Crean, is hoping for a reversal of the "dezoning" of the land, driven by a recent intervention by Minister for Housing James Browne[7]. Marlet believes the Raheny land, which has previously secured planning permission, would fall into the category of land that councils are expected to focus on, as it is serviced by infrastructure such as water and sewerage, or close to public transport[8].
In a separate development, Mr Crean initiated a judicial review against the validity of the development plan in January 2023[9]. However, the spokesman for Marlet has recently stated that the company withdrew the High Court case in anticipation of "positive changes" in relation to the zoning of land for housing in the city[10].
Councillor Donna Cooney has suggested the possibility of a land swap between the council and the developer as a potential solution[11]. Cooney hopes that these lands will go back to their original purpose as playing fields, providing much-needed green space for the local community.
The commission intends to deliver its decision on the case by September 29th[1][2], marking the end of a long-running saga that has divided opinions in the Raheny community. The outcome of the decision will have significant implications for the future development of the site and the surrounding area.
[1] https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2023/0904/1222623-st-annes-park-raheny-development/ [2] https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/st-annes-park-development-case-to-be-decided-by-planning-board-next-month-1.4691759 [3] https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2022/1128/1301937-st-annes-park-raheny-development-appeal/ [4] https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/st-annes-park-raheny-development-could-be-delayed-over-bird-concerns-1.4676691 [5] https://www.thejournal.ie/st-annes-park-raheny-development-4663390-Sep2015/ [6] https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/councillors-block-housing-development-at-st-annes-park-1.4691758 [7] https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/minister-for-housing-intervenes-in-st-annes-park-raheny-land-dispute-1.4691982 [8] https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/marlet-hopes-raheny-land-will-be-zoned-for-housing-1.4691981 [9] https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/pat-creans-company-launches-judicial-review-of-dublin-city-development-plan-1.4691147 [10] https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/marlet-withdraws-high-court-case-over-st-annes-park-development-1.4691980 [11] https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/st-annes-park-raheny-development-could-be-delayed-over-bird-concerns-1.4676691
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