Good decision by An Bord Pleanala regarding transport infrastructure

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman, has welcomed a recent decision by An Board Pleanala to overturn the grant of planning permission for a major development in the Blanchardstown Centre until such time as adequate public transport, in the form of the Metro West, has been provided.

I was delighted to see a really significant planning decision by An Bord Pleanala last week.

Planning permission for a significant development in the Blanchardstown Centre was overturned on the basis that it should not go ahead until the Metro West has been delivered. This is really important because over the last 15 years, we have seen huge development in Dublin 15, much of it based on the argument that public transport links will eventually follow. As residents of the area know all too well, this hasn’t happened and we have been left with major traffic congestion right across Dublin 15.

I think it is vital that An Bord Pleanala is putting a marker down that before major developments happen in Dublin 15 in future, the necessary transport infrastructure has be in place first.

The proposed development which was rejected was an eight-storey mixed use retail and commercial development on a site currently being used as an overflow car park adjacent to West End Retail Park, Westpoint Fitness Centre and opposite the Red Mall extension of the Town Centre.

It’s a pity that Fingal County Council didn’t take the same approach in relation to incorporating transport when it was considering the Kellystown Rezoning. At the time the rezoning was being voted upon, the Green Party councillors submitted a motion saying that no residential building would take place until either the Metro West was operational or the electrification of the Maynooth line had taken place. However, the Council management opposed this sensible condition and it was voted down by the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael councillors.

For too long, Fingal County Council has granted planning permission without adequately considering the transport needs. I hope that this decision from An Bord Pleanala will give guidance to Fingal County Council in its future decisions.