Mary Lou McDonald seeks oral inquiry into element of masterplan for O'Connell Street

Seán McCárthaigh

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald has lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála against an element of a major regeneration plan for Dublin city centre located around the former Carlton cinema site on O’Connell Street.

The Dublin Central TD is seeking to overturn the recent decision of Dublin City Council to grant planning permission for the proposed repair, refurbishment and reuse of a protected structure on O’Connell Street by the developer Hammersmith.

Ms McDonald has requested an oral hearing on her appeal because of the proposed development being located in an area of historical importance.

In a submission to An Bord Pleanála, the Sinn Féin leader said the area was central to the evacuation route used by the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising as well as being the location of the surrender of those who had escaped from the GPO.

She noted that An Bord Pleanála had previously decided to hold an oral hearing in 2009 relating to an appeal for a proposed multi-storey development on an adjacent section of the developer’s site.

Hammersmith through its subsidiary, Dublin Central GP, was granted planning permission last month for the proposed redevelopment of the four-storey building which currently houses Flanagan’s restaurant with offices on upper levels.

The plans provide for a licenced restaurant/café with takeaway facility at ground floor level on both O’Connell Street and Henry Place as well as three apartments and a gym/leisure studio.

A new pedestrian link will also be created through part of the ground floor between O’Connell Street and Henry Place.

Ms McDonald said there was a high quantity of information provided by the developer in relation to the various elements of its masterplan which “has been difficult to take on board".

'Grave concerns'

She expressed “grave concerns” about supportive comments by the Tánaiste Micheál Martin for the overall development as well as confirmation by the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien that his department had been engaged in some discussions about compensation for traders on Moore Street.

Dublin City Council has acknowledged that the traders will be unable to operate their stalls during the construction phase of the development but said, once completed, it will offer a significant opportunity for the markets on Moore Street “to flourish and rejuvenate".

The Sinn Féin leader said the proposed new link through the building, with a controlled gateway access, was unnecessary as the developer had already proposed a new street and plaza in another part of the development.

Ms McDonald claimed the overall development was totally inappropriate and “out of scale” and would dwarf the national monument formed by several buildings on Moore Street.

She pointed out that the O’Connell Street area was already “awash” with cafés, restaurants, bars and fast food outlets and questioned how a new restaurant located in a gated passageway could be commercially viable.

“The suggestion of a new passageway with periodically locked gates, linking O’Connell Street and Henry Place is a recipe for a planning disaster and will contribute nothing to the city,” said Ms McDonald.

A ruling by An Bord Pleanála on the Sinn Féin president’s appeal is due by the end of February 2024.

A number of other appeals by various parties in relation to three other elements of the €500m masterplan for a 2.2 hectare site owned by Hammersmith are also currently under consideration by An Bord Pleanála.

Last month, Dublin City Council also approved another element of the masterplan - a mixed-used scheme for a development up to eight storeys in height that will also provide for a new street between O’Connell Street and Moore Lane.