22897
the demolition of a 2-storey light industrial building, the change of use of the site to accommodate residential and retail/commercial uses, and the construction of a 5 to 6-storey mixed-use development comprising; a c. 825sqm retail unit capable of catering for Class 1 or Class 2 uses, including associated office and bin store at ground floor level; 46 no. apartments including 8 no. 1-bed units, 28 no. 2-bed units and 10 no. 3-bed units at first to fifth floor level; 2 no. communal terraces at fifth floor level including children's play equipment, seating and landscaping; a communal room (c. 138.6sqm), bin store and bicycle store at ground floor level associated with the proposed apartments; solar photovoltaic panels at roof level; revised access to the site and provision of a loading bay at the existing access road to Whitewater Shopping Centre off Athgarvan Road; 52 no. surface level car parking spaces; signage zones on building facades and 1 no. freestanding (totem) sign; an ESB substation and other associated plant and services within the building footprint at ground floor level; and landscaping, boundary treatments, drainage arrangements, utility connections and all associated site development works. Revised by Significant Further Information which consists of revisions in the architectural treatment and height of the southern corner section of the building consisting of amended material finish and fenestration, addition of architectural design elements, and a height increase (+1.225m) resulting in 21.9m overall : revisions to the architectural design of the Northwest corner section of the building consisting of additional windows from the first floor and up, and a revised design of the building's entrance, amendments to the material finish and architectural design of ground floor units; revised undercroft entrances (Athgarvan Road and Access Road) to include pedestrian and vehicular gates ; removal of 1 no. freestanding (totem) sign as originally proposed; revised bicycle parking provision consisting of 160 no. bicycle parking spaces ( increased by 12 no. spaces); modifications to the proposed site layout consisting of additional planting and improved boundary treatments along the Athgarvan Road and Access Road public realm and internal parking area; and; additional surface water drainage arrangements in the form of raingardens and bioretention tree pits throughout the scheme.
Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development fails to provide adequate car parking provision for both residential and retail components and exhibits design deficiencies that negatively impact the visual amenity and passive surveillance of a prominent town centre site.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The development proposes a significant shortfall in car parking, providing only 40 residential spaces for 46 units and 12 retail spaces for 825sqm, which is considered insufficient for the location and scale of the project.
- The architectural design of the ground floor retail facade and the inclusion of large undercrofts result in a monotonous appearance and unsightly views of the car park, failing to protect the visual amenity of this prominent corner site.
- There are unresolved concerns regarding public health and safety, specifically the lack of a representative noise impact assessment for future residents and the absence of adequate passive surveillance at building entrances.