An Taisce welcomes the ruling of An Bord Pleanála in overturning the decision by South Dublin County Council to grant permission for a major retail expansion combined with a new skating and multi-use event venue at Liffey Valley shopping centre.

The application was refused on grounds of inadequate public transport access and potential congestion impact on the M50 and other roads. The decision is a major vindication of the role of An Taisce, as a voluntary organisation, in promoting good planning.

It also raises the question as to why Transport Infrastructure Ireland which had raised critical concerns about the traffic impact of the development at application stage did not appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

The development site has a problematic history. Formerly called Quarryvale, it was rezoned under controversial circumstances in the early 1990s contravening strategic planning policy for the Greater Dublin Area on public transport access and on new town centre development location.

Commenting on the decision, Ian Lumley, An Taisce's Heritage Officer stated "Bad zoning and planning decisions never go away and have an adverse impact through the decades."

ENDS

Ian Lumley, Heritage Officer, An Taisce. Tel: +353 1 454 1786
Charles Stanley-Smith, Communications, An Taisce. Tel: +353 87 241 1995
email: [email protected]
An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland
www.antaisce.org

Notes

About An Taisce

An Taisce is a charity that works to preserve and protect Ireland's natural and built heritage. We are an independent charitable voice for the environment and for heritage issues. We are not a government body, semi-state or agency. Founded in 1948, we are one of Ireland’s oldest and largest environmental organisations.