Inspectors report recommended against granting of permission, yet An Bord Pleanala overrule
In a statement this afternoon, following the publication of the An Bord Pleanala inspectors report into the proposed Bartra residential development at Bulloch Harbour in Dalkey, Richard Boyd Barrett TD, Chairperson of Save Our Seafront, expressed “grave concern” that An Bord Pleanala had rejected their own inspectors report and dismissed all of the serious planning and zoning issues that had led the inspector to recommend refusal of the development in their report.
The Bartra proposal is for 3 luxury mansions and apartments at the important public and cultural amenity that is Bulloch Harbour.
Richard Boyd Barrett described as “bizarre and reckless” the decision of An Bord Pleanala to overrule not only the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown planner’s recommendation, but the recommendation of the An Bord Pleanala inspector’s report which was against the granting of the permission.
The planning inspectors report upholds the council decision and recommends refusal of the development on the grounds of zoning, specific local objectives (SLO); the risk of flooding and the special character of the area. Yet incredibly, An Bord Pleanala, without any explanation, simply dismisses these issues.
Deputy Boyd Barrett said An Bord Pleanala should be required to provide and explanation for the decision to overrule the planning experts in both their own organisation and the DLR county council.
He said: “I find the decision by An Bord Pleanala to overrule the council’s planner and their own inspector’s recommendation quite stunning. I think this is a totally inappropriate and reckless decision and is at complete variance with the zoning, council objectives and the principals of sustainable development.
“The rationale provided by An Bord Pleanala for granting this planning proposal and, quite frankly, without providing any evidence to support their claim, is less than satisfactory and needs to be explained. I find it mystifying that planners experienced at interpreting county development plans who upheld the council decision were unceremoniously overruled by the board.
“For An Bord Pleanala to make this decision and ignoring the expert advice which was provided to them is quite shocking and shows that they somehow feel above reproach. They must clarify the reason for their decision and I will be raising this with the Minister Eoghan Murphy in the Dáil so we can get to the bottom of this crazy decision that is goes against the wishes of the community around the public and historical amenity that is Bulloch Harbour.”
