SD20A/0089
Mixed leisure, entertainment and retail extension to the existing Liffey Valley Centre organised around a large public plaza and pedestrian friendly east-west street with parapet levels varying between c.15m and c.18m above street level; the scheme provides for: (a) a two storey commercial extension (c.46,783sq.m gross) with plant areas at roof level to the existing Centre providing for mixed leisure and entertainment units (c. 9,247sq.m gross), food/beverage units (c.4,052sq.m gross), retail units (c. 21,051sq.m gross) and all ancillary space and circulation areas (c.12,433sq.m gross); the main retail area will be anchored by two stores (comprising a total of c.10,090sq.m gross) located on either side of the public plaza; (b) a central public plaza fronting onto the east-west street covered with a large glass canopy in the form of a curved gridshell structure, this structure will be the tallest part of the proposal at a height of c. 20m above street level, the food/beverage units are located around the plaza at both ground and first floor levels; (c) car parking over two levels (c.900 spaces including 45 universal access spaces and c.200 long stay cycle spaces with an area of c.27,917sq.m gross) located north-east of the extension area c. 290 short stay cycle spaces, 27 short stay car parking spaces and car/taxi set down areas on the east-west street; c.100 long stay cycles spaces provided within the existing car park to the adjacent to the Westend development (Vue Cinema and restaurants); approximately 2,085sq.m of existing gross floor space is to be removed/demolished over ground and first floor to facilitate the extension; the proposal includes all associated service yards, plant and equipment, photovoltaic panels, electricity substations, all utility connections and works, street lighting, signage, landscaping and boundary treatments; the proposal includes the construction of new toucan crossing points for cyclists on Ascail an Life (Ring Road around the Centre) at the western end of the east-west street to provide safe connection to the existing cycle network. An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) is submitted.
Core Planning Reasoning
The proposed development was recommended for grant as it is consistent with the 'Major Retail Centre' (MRC) zoning objective, complies with the retail hierarchy and policies of the South Dublin County Development Plan 2016-2022, and includes sufficient infrastructure and demand management measures to ensure it does not negatively impact the strategic road network or the vitality of competing centres.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The principle of development is established under the 'Major Retail Centre' zoning, and the proposal supports Liffey Valley's role as a Level 2 regional retail destination without causing significant trade diversion from competing centres like Tallaght.
- The traffic and transportation issues that led to a previous refusal in 2016 have been successfully mitigated through the collaborative Liffey Valley Access Study, the approval of a new bus interchange, and the introduction of a paid parking charging strategy to reduce car dependency.
- The design of the extension, including the central public plaza and 'Liffey Valley Plaza' street, is of high quality and represents a well-considered contemporary addition that respects the site's context and residential amenity.