2851/21
Planning permission for development on a site of c. 2.67 ha located at the former Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6. The development, which will comprise a new educational campus of 2 No. new school buildings, to be delivered on a phased basis. The demolition/removal of the existing 3 no. storey 2,355 sq m grandstand; 1 no. storey 617 sq m pavilion building; 2 no. outbuildings (13 sq m and 42 sq m) and entrance gates onto Harold’s Cross Road is required to facilitate the proposed development. Access to the proposed school campus will be via the existing site entrance at Harold’s Cross Road and pedestrian entrance gate at Grosvenor Lane. The development will also consist of 1 No. 2 storey, 16 No. classroom primary school and 2 no. classroom Special Educational Needs Unit; a General Purpose Hall; and all ancillary teacher and pupil facilities, with a gross floor area of 3,308 sq m. The development will also consist of the provision of 1 No. part 4 No. storey, 1,000 No. pupil Post Primary School and 4 no. classroom Special Educational Needs Unit, with a gross floor area of c. 11,576 sq m, including a P.E Hall and General Purpose Hall and all ancillary teacher and pupil facilities. The development will include the provision of an internal vehicular turning circle; vehicular drop off facilities; 1 no. 39 m pedestrian canopy structure; 1 no. storey 88 sq m storage and bin store building; accessible vehicular spaces consistent with the access strategy approved under DCC Reg. Ref. 4412/17; shared vehicular/pedestrian/cycle route within the site with internal pathways; bicycle and scooter parking; hard and soft play areas; sensory garden; multipurpose outdoor seating, dining and event space; 3 no. flagpoles; new entrance gate arrangement to Harold’s Cross Road; boundary treatments; signage; PV Panels; Green Roof and SUDs; piped infrastructure and ducting; plant; external courtyards; ancillary ramps and stairs; 1 No. attenuation tank; changes in level and all associated site development and excavation works above and below ground.
Core Planning Reasoning
The Inspector recommended a grant of permission, concluding that the development complies with the Z15 zoning objective, meets essential educational needs, and, through its stepped design and setbacks, would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area or compromise traffic safety.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The provision of a new school campus on lands zoned Z15 is acceptable in principle and aligns with local planning policies to provide community and institutional facilities.
- The contemporary design, which utilizes stepped block modulation and specific setbacks, successfully mitigates potential negative impacts regarding overbearance, overlooking, and overshadowing for neighboring residents.
- The proposed car-free campus and ambitious 85% sustainable travel modal split are supported by planned upgrades to local pedestrian and cycle infrastructure, ensuring the development is acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Decision Document Summary
The applicant, the Department of Education, proposes the demolition of the former Harold's Cross Greyhound Stadium to construct a new educational campus. This includes a 2-storey primary school and a part 4-storey post-primary school for 1,000 pupils on a 2.67-hectare site. The site context is predominantly residential, bordering the Leinster Park estate. The Inspector's assessment focused heavily on residential amenities and traffic management. Key arguments included that the height and massing...PDF Document Missing
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