4704/22
Planning Permission 1) to demolish an existing 2-storey building containing a bar, restaurant, bookmakers and takeaway and 2) for the construction of a new commercial/residential mixed use development, consisting of a 5-storey over part-basement structure containing 240 sq.m hospitality/commercial unit at ground level with a 142 sq.m basement, a 140 sq.m retail unit also at ground floor level, 48 no. apartments over 4 storeys, with balconies (3 no. 3-bed, 31 no. 2-bed, 14 no. 1-bed units), public and communal open space at first floor plaza level, communal open space at fourth floor level, pedestrian access at Main Street and Ballygall Road, a total of 31 car parking spaces and 106 bicycle parking spaces at ground level, vehicular access from Main Street and vehicular exit onto Ballygall Road, waste storage, ancillary site development works, associated services and landscaping, all at The Bottom of the Hill Bar, Main Street & Ballygall Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, adjacent to a protected structure (RPS no. 4850 in the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022).
Core Refusal Reason
The Planning Authority refused permission due to the proposed scale's impact on Finglas Village and the setting of Rosehill House, alongside poor residential entrance security and private amenity space; however, the Inspector recommended a grant of permission, finding the density and height appropriate for a district centre site under national and local policy.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed density of 243 units per hectare and building height of five storeys are considered justifiable given the site's location within a designated district centre (Z4 zoning) and its proximity to high-frequency public transport corridors.
- The architectural response successfully establishes a strong urban edge at a key village gateway without compromising the character, legibility, or setting of the adjacent Protected Structure, Rosehill House.
- Residential standards, including internal daylighting, unit mix, and private/communal amenity space provision, are deemed to be in substantial compliance with the 2023 New Apartment Guidelines and the Development Plan.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Decision Document Summary
The proposal seeks to demolish the existing 'Bottom of the Hill' public house and commercial buildings at 34 Main Street, Finglas, to facilitate a five-storey mixed-use development containing 48 apartments, a 240sq.m hospitality unit, and a 140sq.m retail unit. The 0.2ha site is situated at a prominent junction adjacent to Rosehill House, a Protected Structure. While the Planning Authority initially refused the scheme for being monolithic and providing substandard residential amenities, the Insp...PDF Document Missing
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View the appeal at An Bord Pleanála