PHIBSBOROUGH MATTERS – June 2017

PHIBSBOROUGH SHOPPING CENTRE – PLANNING APPLICATION (2628/17)

The Planning Department of Dublin City Council has made an interim decision on the application for planning permission to partially redevelop the Phibsborough Shopping Centre. Additional information has been sought off the applicant in respect of 13 separate areas, including:

• Future occupiers of accommodation on site must be students of a registered third-level institution.

• Concerns with Block A and changes to the design thereof.

• Uncertainty over the ground floor usage fronting onto planned Civic Plaza.

• Clarity on the Daylight / Sunlight Report already submitted.

• Review of the provision of recreational facilities within the proposal.

• Clarity on the finish of windows in Blocks A & C.

• More information on proposed landscaping / street furnishing of Civic Plaza.

The applicant now has six months to comply with the order issued by the Planning Department on May 29th last. When those details are lodged, anyone who has already lodged an observation on the planning application, will have the opportunity to lodge a further observation on that information. As your local Councillor, I will work with Minister Donohoe to keep you updated of developments in respect of this proposal.

PHIBSBOROUGH GRAFFITI REMOVAL

The Public Domain Unit of Dublin City Council has been removing incidents of graffiti from various buildings and locations across the Phibsborough district. The Council’s Corporate Contractor and its own Waste Management Services have removed graffiti along Primrose Street, Wellington Street Upper, Auburn Street, Valentina Parade, Western Way, Goldsmith Street and Royal Canal Bank. If there are items of graffiti on your street or avenue, please contact me at raymcadam@gmail.com and I will arrange for its removal.

 

ROYAL CANAL GREENWAY – PROGRESS REPORT

I have been continuing to follow up with City Council officials to ensure the planning permission approved by Councillors some months ago is implemented as quickly as possible. Important community engagement took along the proposed PHASE II of the project in the North Wall area took place last summer. Issues arising from that community consultation have been finalized and I believe Dublin City Council should now be proceeding to tender for the selection of a contractor. I can now confirm that the City Council has now commenced the tender process for the selection of a contractor for PHASE II, which takes in the area between Sheriff Street Upper and the North Strand Road. It is anticipated that a Contractor will be selected by end October 2017. The Contractor procurement is a two stage process but it is expected that the selected Contractor will commence works on site in November 2017. In terms of PHASE III, which relates to the stretch of the Royal Canal between the North Strand Road and the Phibsborough Road, tenders for the procurement of a Contractor will be issued in May 2017. From speaking with the officials, I understand the procurement process for this project will be shorter. It is anticipated that the Contractor will be appointed in August with the intention of commencing works on site in September 2017.

 

LUAS CROSS CITY – PROJECT REPORT

This month will see the beginning of testing of the new LUAS trams along the extended line. The National Transport Authority has advised me that the testing will take place during the day but there will also be some night tests. I believe that all traffic signal junctions will be completed by early July. There will be a gradual increase of the number of tram tests in the weeks following the initial gauge run. Tram driving will begin in the autumn with a view to formally open LUAS Cross City extension for passenger services in December. The major focus of the works is on public realm improvements including final surfacing, paving and installation of statutory signage in areas near the tracks. Enhanced paving of footpaths along Dominick Street will be completed across June followed by the area in the vicinity of the Dorset Street Council housing complex.

 

IMPLEMENTING PHIBSBOROUGH LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

As your representative on the City Council Group overseeing the implementation of the Phibsborough Environmental Improvement Plan, I want to provide you with a further update on the works I am undertaking in conjunction with officials in various Council Departments. Since the initial meeting of the Implementation Group, the City Council has:

• Begun the traffic analysis of Doyle’s Corner, including the approaches along the North Circular Road and Phibsborough Road.

• Started the photographic audit of Phibsborough shop fronts.

• Interacted with Transport Infrastructure Ireland on securing lands north of Mount Bernard Park to extend the park.

• Undertaken initial background works on developing a Design Brief for new Tea Rooms in Blessington Street Park & Basin.

• Liaised with Waterways Ireland to improve water quality in Blessington Street Basin.

• Initiated work on the drafting of a Great Western Square Landscaping Plan to enhance planting, childrens’ play area and public seating.

The next meeting of the Implementation Group will take place later this month. If you have any questions or queries regarding the 41 objectives included in the Phibsborough Local Environmental Improvement Plan, please email me at raymcadam@gmail.com.

 

CHESTER HOUSE PLANNING APPLICATION (2965/17)

Dublin Simon has lodged an application for planning permission to construct a three storey extension to the rear of Chester House, 314-316, North Circular Road, and inclusive of the properties 318, 320 & 322 North Circular Road. The planning application was lodged on May 22nd last and the deadline for observations to be lodged with the Council is June 26th next. I have organised a meeting for concerned residents with the Planning Department of Dublin City Council to enable those who have questions about the application to put those to officials. Key aspects of the application include:

• Construction of a three-storey extension to provide the following accommodation:

o 20x new en-suite bedrooms for residents

§ 10x at 1st floor level

§ 10x at 2nd floor level

o Communal dining room with associated kitchen,

o Staff facilities and toilets at ground floor level,

o 4x roof-lights above ground floor dining area comprising a total extension floor area (over three levels) of 868 square metres,

o screened water tank storage area and solar panels (to an area of 16 square metres) at roof level,

• Some minor internal alterations to the layout of the existing buildings.

• Construction of a single-storey separate building to provide plant and storage facilities of 30 square metres to be located within yard area to the rear of 332 North Circular Road.
GOVERNMENT REPAIR & LEASING SCHEME

Dublin City Council, in line with our Fine Gael Government’s Housing Action Plan has initiated the Repair & Leasing Scheme. The focus of the scheme is to deliver housing while maximising the use of existing built housing stock in the City. Dublin City Council is targeting owners with vacant housing units that require refurbishment works up to a maximum of €40,000, inclusive of VAT. The refurbishment works are to be carried out to bring the properties up to standard for rented accommodation. The capital investment cost required to refurbish the units will be offset against lease rental payments to the property owner. The City Council is advertising the scheme on http://www.dublincity.ie where you can find full details of the scheme and how interested parties can apply. If you require any further information, please email me or the Council directly at rls@dublincity.ie.

 

WEED SPRAYING PROGRAMME 2017

Dublin City Council completed the first spray as part of this year’s weed removal programme on May 5th last. The second spray will commence on Monday July 24th next, weather permitting. It normally takes two weeks for the chemicals to take effect on the weeds. Inspections by Public Domain officials will take place in the coming days and arrangements will be made to have areas revisited where the spraying is considered to be incomplete.

 

274 NORTH CIRCULAR ROAD PLANNING APPLICATION

Dublin City Council has granted permission for the construction of a 444 bed student accommodation complex on the former Christian Brothers’ lands at 274 North Circular Road. Like many local residents, I lodged an observation on this application earlier this year and I disappointed with the decision of the Planning Department. I will be liaising with residents on lodging an appeal with An Bord Pleanala. Similarly to work I have been involved with in the Arbour Hill and area of Dublin 7, I believe that an Oral Hearing should be ordered to provide residents

 

CONFIRMED: DUBLIN BIKES TO GRANGEGORMAN THIS SUMMER!

Local Minister, Paschal Donohoe T.D. secured funding of €1.5m in Budget 2016 for the expansion of Dublin Bikes to Grangegorman. Since this money was allocated, I have been working to ensure 15 new bike stations are put in place and 100 new Dublin Bikes provided. The works associated with the expansion will consist of civil works, electrical connections, ancillary health & safety station infrastructure, etc as well as the supply and installation of cycle stands and a terminal for each of the 15 bike stations. Bike station infrastructure is under manufacture and I can confirm that these 15 new Bike Stations will be installed across the coming weeks. The expanded Dublin Bikes network in Grangegorman will be fully operational shortly thereafter.

The new Dublin Bike Stations will be located at:

• two at Grangegorman Lower,

• the junction of Grangegorman Upper and Rathdown Road,

• the entrance of the campus along the North Circular Road,

• Rathdown Road,

• Rosemount Road,

• Charleville Road

• and at Hanlon’s Corner among others.