Bluebell Waterways Housing Development Part 8 Planning Consultation

Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) – Part XI

Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) - Part 8

Applicant: The Land Development Agency on behalf of Dublin City Council Housing Services

Location: Site c. 2.94ha at Bluebell Avenue and Bluebell Road, Bluebell, Dublin 12

Proposal: Pursuant to the requirements of the above, notice is hereby given of the construction of 383 no. residential units for a site of c.2.9 ha (with a developable area of c.2ha) located at Bluebell Avenue and Bluebell Road, Bluebell, Dublin 12. The site is bound by Grand Canal Way to the North, Bluebell Community Centre to the East, Our Lady of the Wayside National School, Bluebell Road and Bluebell Avenue to the South and existing housing on Hollybrook and Canal Terrace to the West.

The proposed development will consist of:

1.      Demolition of existing above ground structures on site, including the existing 36 no. 2 bed maisonettes and the existing community facility known as the Bungalow (which is being relocated within the site), and the construction of a residential development set out in 5 no. blocks, ranging in height from 5 to 9 storeys to accommodate 383 no. apartments, 3 no. community / cultural units and a crèche. The site will accommodate 141 no. car parking spaces, 945 no. bicycle parking spaces, storage, services and plant areas. Landscaping will include a new central public plaza, residential courtyards, and a western linear parkland which includes relocated allotments. 

2.      The 5 no. residential buildings range in height from 5 storeys to 9 storeys accommodating 383 no. apartments comprising 22 studios, 131 no. 1 bed units, 192 no. 2 bed units (30 no. 2 bed- 3 person and 162 no. 2 bed- 4 person) and 38 no. 3 bed units. The residential buildings are arranged centrally on the site and around residential courtyards at podium and ground level. Balconies and terraces to be provided on all elevations at all levels for each block. The breakdown of residential accommodation is as follows:

·        Block 1 is a 7 to 8 storey building accommodating 80 no. units comprising 1 no. studio, 28 no. 1 bed units, 43 no. 2 bed units, 8 no. 3 bed units.

·        Block 2 is a 6 to 9 storey building accommodating 86 no. units comprising 23 no. 1 bed units, 50 no. 2 bed units, 13 no. 3 bed units.

·        Block 3A/3B is a 6 storey building accommodating 83 no. units comprising 10 no. studios, 43 no. 1 bed units, 30 no. 2 bed units.

·        Block 4A/4B is a 5 to 6 storey building, accommodating 70 no. units comprising 1 no. studio, 22 no. 1 bed units, 34 no. 2 bed units, 13 no. 3 bed units.

·        Block 5 is a 5 to 7 storey building accommodating 64 no. units comprising 10 no. studios, 15 no. 1 bed units, 35 no. 2 bed units, 4 no. 3 bed units.

3.      The residential Blocks 2 and 3A/3B, and Blocks 4A/4B sit at podium level, above a ground level, which contains residential units, residential car-parking, cycle parking, plant areas and ground floor uses. Blocks 2, 3A/3B and 4B have ground floor uses which include a crèche of c. 289 sqm, with associated external play space, and 3 no. community/cultural units with a total floor area of c.651 sqm. The relocated Bungalow is to be contained within the ground floor of Block 2 with associated external space. Total gross floor area of proposed other uses is c.940sqm.

4.      The primary site access is via a new entrance from Bluebell Road at the junction with La Touche Drive which includes for a new pedestrian crossing, with secondary access for pedestrians and cyclists only being from Bluebell Avenue. The residential car parking, 133 spaces, is provided at below podium level between Blocks 2 and 3A/3B and Block 4A/4B and at surface level, in addition 2 no. crèche, 2 no. community and 4 no. car club spaces are provided at surface level. Provision for EV charging is included. The proposed development shall include a total of 945 no. bicycle parking spaces of which 923 no. shall be allocated to the residents of the development (inc. long-stay, short-stay and cargo bikes) and 22 no. spaces shall be allocated to the non-residential of the development (inc. long-stay, short-stay and cargo bikes) and in addition 10 motorcycle spaces are provided. Plant, ESB sub-stations, storage areas, waste storage areas and other associated facilities are also provided at ground level of all blocks. Access is provided through the scheme onto the Grand Canal for pedestrians and cyclists.

5.   The development also includes for a new centrally landscaped areas in addition to an extensive area of linear open space is provided along the western corridor of the site and includes a play area, biodiversity planting, relocated allotments and provides access and permeability to the Grand Canal. The scheme also includes for the incorporation of the existing disused filter beds. The proposed application includes all site landscaping works, green roofs, boundary treatments, lighting, servicing, signage, and associated and ancillary works, including site development works above and below ground.

The proposal has undergone Appropriate Assessment Screening in accordance with Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and screening for Environmental Impact Assessment under the EIA Directive 2011/92/EU, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU. 

In accordance with Article 81 of the Planning & Development Regulations 2001, as amended, the Planning Authority has made a determination and concluded that: 

a) The proposed development, either individually or in combination with other plans and projects, is not likely to have a significant effect on any European site(s) and therefore a Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment is not required.  

b) There is no real likelihood of significant effects on the environment arising from the proposed development and that the proposed development is not of a class set out under Schedule 5 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, and therefore does not require an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR).

Any person may, within 4 weeks from the date of publication of this notice, apply to An Bord Pleanála for a screening determination as to whether the development would be likely to have significant effects on the environment.