Revised plans for a town centre in Dundrum have run into difficulties, with two third-party objections lodged with An Bord Pleanala.
Alice Developments, part of the Castlethorn group, was granted planning last May by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to demolish the existing Crazy Prices superstore and the Pye centre and to create a 35,000 sq m centre. Dundrum has been designated one of the two major town centres in the un Laoghaire-Rathdown council's area, the other being Dun Laoghaire itself.
Part of the plan was also to facilitate a section of the proposed Dundrum by-pass, one of a network of roads necessary to ease the chronic traffic congestion in the area. They must be in place before the M50 extension is completed to the Ballinteer interchange next summer.
A previous application for the town centre development was rejected on grounds that it was too bulky in design and An Bord Pleanala particularly wanted to ensure that the listed Millhouse and Millpond were preserved.
The latest application from Alice Developments sought to achieve this. The scheme would also benefit from the proximity of the planned LUAS line, the Wyckham by-pass and the Ballinteer Road realignment .
One of the objections has come from a resident of the Lynwood housing estate, on Ballinteer Road. The objection was based on "a serious increase in traffic, noise and air pollution" and a loss of quality of life and privacy. The Lynwood Resident's Association, which objected to the original plan, has not objected this time.
The second third-party objection was made by the Dodder Anglers' Club, over plans to culvert the Slang stream under buildings on site.
A decision on the centre is not now due until October, which would mean it is unlikely work could start before next year.
A spokesman for Alice Developments said the company was "naturally disappointed" as it had spoken to the groups and individuals who had objected to the original application.
He said the centre wanted to "be good neighbours" and the company would be happy to hand over the old mill building and pond to a local heritage society.
The spokesman pointed out that there was a large "civic" element in the development, including cafes and a 200-seat theatre.
The timescale is very bad news for the county council, which is also the lead authority in the development of the Dublin ring motorway (M50), which is on schedule to be opened as far as Ballinteer by next summer.
According to John Guckian, senior administrative officer with the council, traffic using the Ballinteer exit will need a vastly improved network of local roads to disperse traffic safely and avoid major delays.
