SD23A/0240
Demolition of the Speaker Connolly Public House including the part single part two storey public house, and ancillary stores and structures (c. 411sqm), on a development site of 0.323 Hectares (overall site area 0.332 Ha). The proposed development with a total gross floor area of c. 8,813 sq.m will consist of 85 residential units and associated balconies for all units in one block ranging in height from 5 to 6 storeys in height over round floor and part basement, comprising: 36 One Bed Apartments, 48 Two Bed Apartments, One Studio Apartment. The development will also consist of non-residential uses at ground floor level (c. 596 sq.m), including: 1 no. Public House (c. 143 sq.m), 1 no. Restaurant (c. 169 sq.m) 1 no. Health Care Unit (c. 91.8 sq.m), 1 no. Cafe (c. 55.4 sq.m) 2 no. Micro Enterprise Units (c. 93.6 sq.m and 43.4 sq.m, respectively). The existing basement will be used as a plant room (c. 110.5 sq.m), Vehicular access to the site will be from the existing vehicular access on Ballycullen Avenue, the proposal works include alterations to the existing access and public footpath, including the provision of enhanced pedestrian infrastructure. The development will also consist of the provision of communal open space (c. 653 sq.m) at podium level and related play areas; public open space (c. 300 sq.m) including hard and soft landscaping, internal access road including a vehicular link between Ballycullen Avenue and the Firhouse Shopping Centre, boundary treatment, street furniture, car parking along the internal access road (11 spaces in total including 1 accessible space), below podium car parking (32 no. spaces in total, including 4 accessible spaces); electric vehicle charging points (9 no of spaces); bicycle parking (155 long stay and 58 short stay spaces); ESB substation, piped infrastructural services and connections to existing public services; ducting; plant; waste management provision; SuDS measures including Green/Blue roofs; stormwater management; signage; public lighting; solar panels as well as telecommunications infrastructure including 18 no. antennas enclosed in 9 no. shrouds and 6 no. transmission dishes, together with all associated equipment and all ancillary site development and excavation works above and below ground.
Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development was refused due to excessive height and density, poor design quality that fails to integrate with the public realm, and significant concerns regarding traffic safety and the temporary loss of a key right of way.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed building is of excessive height, scale, and massing, resulting in an overbearing and discordant development that fails to respect the character of the receiving environment or provide a high-quality public realm interface.
- The internal residential standards are deficient, specifically regarding inadequate storage, poor daylight for certain units, lack of privacy between balconies, and unacceptable overlooking between habitable rooms.
- The layout presents significant traffic and pedestrian safety hazards, fails to adequately manage waste collection and delivery movements, and would result in the unacceptable temporary loss of a primary right of way to the adjacent shopping centre.