HANDS OFF! VICTORY - CRAMPTON BUILDINGS SAVED

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday May 27, 2003 14:33 by R Mac Eoin - An Taisce antaiscepress at oceanfree dot net 01 454 1786

Big-business fails in attempts to run rough-shod over one of Dublins oldest inner city communities

An Taisce welcomes decision by City Planning Dept. to refuse permission to a scheme which would have destroyed the picturesque Crampton Buildings in Dublin’s Temple Bar

VICTORY: CRAMPTON BUILDINGS SAVED

An Taisce welcomes decision by City Planning Dept. to refuse permission to a scheme which would have destroyed the picturesque Crampton Buildings in Dublin’s Temple Bar

An Taisce Statement - May 26th 2003

Ruling by Dublin City Council Planning Department commended: a victory for the common good over a development that would have been ugly, unwanted, and unsustainable. Picturesque dwellings now protected by the decision to refuse permission to a scheme which would have been inherently anti-social and could have been dangerous through undermining the Protected Structure.

The decision by the Planning Dept. to save what had been described by An Taisce as an “inner city Community that is a model of socially mixed sustainable living in action” must be welcomed – both by the residents, and by anybody who cares about keeping the worthwhile urban fabric that is intrinsic to Dublin.

Indeed, it is worth noting that the Planning Department concurred with Dublin City Council - who rejected the scheme out of hand, as well as with An Taisce who had endorsed the David-and-Goliath campaign that Crampton’s residents had waged in order to save their area.

It will be recalled that a Treasury Holdings related company had proposed a scheme which would have meant that the current residents would lost the valuable amenity area of the courtyard, and instead would have been subjected to an oversized and anti-social development.

Moreover, it is of interest to An Taisce to note that the Planning Dept. refused permission on 3 counts. Firstly, the Dept. considered that the proposed scheme “would result in an over-concentration of restaurants in the immediate vicinity which would result in an unsustainable mix of uses in the area. This development would be contrary to proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

Secondly, the now rejected development “would seriously detract from the residential amenity in the vicinity through noise and nuisance. It would result in over shadowing by virtue of its height and location…would seriously injure amenities and depreciate the value of property in the vicinity”.

Finally, in relation to the site being an integral part of a Protected Structure, the Dept. stated that the proposed scheme “would result in the removal of elements including landscaping which contributes to the unique character of the structure, and by virtue of its scale and extent would detract from the setting of the protected structure. The three storey element located on Asdill’s Row would obstruct the view of the protected structure from the street and would be seriously injurious to the visual amenities of the Temple Bar and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

Instead of Treasury referring to the courtyard in the buildings as a “knocking shop and a drug zone”, An Taisce would now urge Treasury Holdings to face up to their legal responsibilities and make secure the access on to the courtyard and fit the locks required. Any other course of action – or inaction – is antisocial and most likely illegal.

End of statement.

Attribution: spokesperson for An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland.

An Taisce – Ireland’s Largest & Oldest Environmental Charity

Tailors Hall, Back Lane, Dublin 8, Ireland. Tel: 01 454 1786, Fax: 01 453 3255.

www.antaisce.org