2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Cillian Sherlock)
Minister Jack Chambers, who has criticised planning objections regarding concerns about the “character of an area”, previously objected to a development which included apartments over “aesthetic” concerns. This week, Mr Chambers said a mindset around objecting to housing developments based on the character of an area “has to change” as he announced a series of actions designed to accelerate the delivery of strategic infrastructure. The Public Expenditure Minister said such objections are “nebulous” and block the broader social and economic goal of increased housing supply.
He has also previously said he had seen examples of “eminently sensible proposals” in Dublin which “appear to be being refused for specific aesthetic reasons, which undermines housing supply”. However, it has re-emerged that Mr Chambers objected to a mixed development including eight apartments in his constituency by citing concerns it would impact “the aesthetic and visual outlook” of the village, reportedly describing the project as a “monstrosity”. In 2016, Lidl sought planning permission for a development which would include one of its supermarkets, other shops, a cafe, a medical centre and eight apartments in Castleknock.
Mr Chambers, a local backbench TD at the time, objected to the overall development by stating that Castleknock is an “important historical place” and is an architectural conservation area. In a written submission available online, he argued the development would “compromise and constrain the aesthetic and visual outlook” of the village, adding that there was little desire for the supermarket. In his submission, Mr Chambers wrote: “Castleknock is one of the important historical places of Dublin 15 with a variety of listed buildings and it is recognised as an Architectural Conservation Area.
This development would compromise and constrain the aesthetic and visual outlook of the village into the future. “There is little appetite for a large anchor tenant like Lidl in the middle of Castleknock Village and Castleknock residents are well served with adjacent supermarkets in Blanchardstown Village, Roselawn, and Blanchardstown Shopping Centre for example. The proposed development would deflect and denigrate the Castleknock Architectural Conservation Area and it is of concern to many residents in the area.
” Mr Chambers also criticised the project during an oral hearing of An Bord Pleanala in early 2017. The Irish Times reported at the time that he described the proposed development as a “monstrosity” which “puts an atomic bomb under the conservation area as we should see it”. There were many other objections to the development including by former Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar while he was minister for social protection, then-Tanaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton, current Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman who was a councillor at the time, and Ruth Coppinger TD.
Mr Chambers and others had also objected on concerns over traffic as well as issues regarding parking and pedestrian access. The planning permission was ultimately granted in 2017. Asked about his objection to the development, a spokesman for Mr Chambers told the PA news agency: “The observation referenced in relation to a supermarket was made almost a decade ago and prior to him holding ministerial office.
"The minister’s views have evolved over the past number of years during his time in Government and in recent years he has made a conscious decision not to make such observations. He believes all measures need to be examined to increase housing supply and infrastructure delivery across the country.” It comes after the minister said there were “countless examples” of people in housing trying to “frustrate” and “undermine the broad public good”.
On Wednesday, he told reporters: “The last number of years have shown how too many individuals have had too much of a say in impeding infrastructure and housing across our economy.” He added: “There’s too much tolerance for this in how systems are designed. I’ve seen examples in recent months of housing getting stopped because it undermines the character of the area – what does that mean?” Asked if he did not believe that an area could have a “character”, the Fianna Fail deputy leader replied: “An area absolutely can have a character – but to think that an area doesn’t accept housing, or doesn’t accept more housing when people are in existing housing, I don’t think it impedes the character of an area.
“I think additional housing, people, new people living in an area enhances the diversity and character of an area – and the fact that people think they have a veto on more people living around them, I think is a mindset that has to change. It’s just a frustration I see and hear from many young people who would like to live in many urban areas, but they have people who’ve lived in places for decades objecting to housing on the basis of a character of an area – which I think is a nebulous reference that just seeks to block and object the broader social and economic objective.” Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
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