Prussia Street Student Accommodation planning application – July 2020 update.

Submission to An Bord Pleanala.

Prior to the deadline for submissions, I lodged my observations with An Bord Pleanala on the Strategic Housing Development planning application seeking to redevelop 29B, 30 & 31 Prussia Street, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7.

My observation focused on the continuing over-concentration of the same type of development in the Stoneybatter area and across the wider Dublin 7 district. I argued that:

“In total, with a possible granting of planning permission for this application, 3847 bed spaces in purpose built student accommodation would be provided in the Dublin 7 alone. This does not include the amount of purpose built student accommodation that is to be provided for on the Grangegorman campus itself. When that occurs, one would be looking at approximately 6,000 bed spaces of purpose built student accommodation in the Dublin 7 area. This does include the amount of similar development that has already been granted planning permission and constructed across the North Inner City local electoral area. I would strongly contend that such an over-concentration constitutes a fundamental breach of good planning.”

I made further arguments in respect of the height of the proposed development and the potential impact on adjoining homes in St. Joseph’s Place. In addition, I expressed concern about the lack of any meaningful preparation of a traffic management plan, particularly during the construction phase. The accompanying documentation submitted as part of the planning application, provides little or no information relating to how demolition material will be removed, what streets will be used. No information about materials will be transported to the site. We do not know when trucks will block up Prussia Street, Hanlon’s Corner, Old Cabra Road, etc. These are issues that cannot be left until after planning permission is granted. I strongly argued that these are issues that need to be clarified in advance of decision being taken. Otherwise, planning permission should be rejected.

If you would like a copy of my submission, please email me at RayMcAdam@gmail.com and I will share it with you. Equally, if you have any questions or queries about my submission or views on the matter, please get in touch with me.