Foxrock scheme appealed

FOXROCK RESIDENTS have called on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to refuse permission for the redevelopment of a prime site in Foxrock village.

Foxrock Area Development Ltd is among seven objectors to Michael McNamara's plans to redevelop his home - Clonbur - at the junction of Torquay Road and Westminster Road. McNamara wants to knock the house to make way for 11 apartments, an office, shop and 33 car-parking spaces.

Foxrock Area Development Ltd says the redevelopment of the site, surrounded by a screen of evergreen trees, "may be desirable if it were to make a positive contribution to the consolidation of the village". Any development of this "important site" needs to be addressed in the context of a village improvement plan, which is being prepared by the council, according to the group.

The development of both Clonbur and the nearby Gortanore site, which is being turned into apartments by David Arnold, are of "fundamental importance" to the proper planning and sustainable development of the village, says the group. "A detailed design guide for these sites should form an intrinsic part of the village improvement scheme and all proposals for the redevelopment of these sites should be judged within the context," says Feargall Kenny of Kenny Planning Consultants on behalf of Foxrock Area Development Ltd.

Granting permission for any additional development will put extra pressure on parking in the village, according to the group.

Failing to explore the potential of important sites such as Clonbur, Bortanore and the horse racing lands at Leopardstown racecourse is "premature and short-sighted", it says.

McNamara's scheme would put extra pressure on the already "inadequate road infrastructure" of Foxrock village, it adds.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times