Towering concerns in Clondalkin: Rally Round the Tower, an umbrella group of concerned residents and community groups in Clondalkin, is campaigning against the development of apartments, a heritage centre and a bar and restaurant on 0.4-acre site adjacent to a landmark eight century round tower.
The ground immediately around the base of the round tower belongs to South Dublin County Council and the rest of the site belongs to a local developer.
Rory Burgess, with an address at Unit 7 Dutch Village Shopping Centre, is looking to build a two-storey building comprising three one-bedroom apartments and a two-storey over-basement bar/restaurant with frontage along Tower Road. He is also looking to restore and extend 3 Mill View Terrace, a proposed protected building.
Rally Round the Tower say that no building should encroach on what remains of this ancient monastic site: "We believe that the construction of the proposed development could endanger the foundations of the tower, particularly as the proposed bar/restaurant is to include a basement thus requiring deep excavation."
Plans by Germans go kaputt
The German discount supermarket chains have experienced recent planning setbacks. Aldi was refused permission by An Bord Pleanála to demolish disused glasshouses and build a foodstore, leisure centre, retail units, crèche, medical centre and café at Nevinstown West in Swords County Dublin, which is near the Airside Retail Park. Aldi lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanála after it was refused planning permission by Fingal County Council on the grounds that a discount foodstore does not fall into the designated use categories within the development plan. It also said that the development would have a negative impact on the viability of approved neighbourhood centres in the area. An Bord Pleanála upheld its decision.
Lidl was also refused permission by An Bord Pleanála to demolish an existing industrial and office premises at the former Johnson & Johnson site, Old Belgard Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24 and build a foodstore and 153 car-parking spaces.
An Bord Pleanála ruled that it would be contrary to the zoning provisions of the site "and would be at variance with the Retail Planning Guidelines for planning authorities".
