Lol- we should make a game on how often the following nimby phrases pop up for new developments. 1 pt for each of the following,
"Carbuncle"
"Over development"
"We support redevelopment ....but"
Its funny how people use the excuse that there's either to much affordable housing or to little dependin on which phrase they can get away with.
Didn't Ballymore offset its affordable housing for PanP to the Mastmaker Rd development so this Glenkerrin development is not setting a " very dangerous precedent" as its already been done by Ballymore & they doesn't seem to be have incurred the wrath of local residents or local councillors.
Not sure if its a good idea that the developers are linking the two projects as the issues for the island point seem quite contentious to local residents so to load this with the pride developments seems like doubling the amount of trouble.
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http://www.wharf.co.uk/2008/07/island-scheme-to-set-dangerous.html
Island scheme to set "dangerous precedent"?
By John Hill on July 31, 2008 10:48 AM |
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GLENKERRIN could shift its required social housing from the City Pride tower to a scheme down the road.
Government regulations require any developer to provide 40 per cent social housing on a scheme. But the Irish developer is looking to transfer the majority of its affordable units to Island Point, a residential project further down Westferry Road.
Of the 189 homes planned for the site, 118 would be social rented, a percentage of 62 per cent. Key worker and shared ownership allocation would account for another 48 units, leaving just 23 homes for private sale, or 12 per cent.
Interest in the Pride development has been high since Glenkerrin paid £32million for the site of the former dock worker's pub this spring, and it unveiled a 63-storey tower designed by Foster and Partners.
Glenkerrin has argued that the decision to load the social housing onto Island Point was made as the tower would not be suitable for families.
It earmarked two floors for social housing in its plans last month, but many of the units will accommodate between one and three bedrooms. Island Point would feature 20 five beds, 44 four beds, 40 three beds, 49 two beds and 36 one beds.
Critics fear the shifting of affordable housing will disrupt the balance of diversity in the development.
Blackwall and Cubitt Town councillor Phil Briscoe said: "It seems like an unusual amount to push off-site. It's a very dangerous precedent. Everyone wants a mixed and sustainable community, and this doesn't seem to offer that."
Glenkerrin is hoping to submit applications for both the Pride and Island Point development in the next week, implying that the two are to be considered as linked projects.
While the Pride scheme is relatively new, Island Point has already sparked bad blood in the local area. Resident outrage scuppered a previous 337-unit application early this year, and locals were still unimpressed at a public forum held on Monday July 28.
As well as a reduction on units, the new plan reduces the number of buildings from seven to six and sees the tallest tower shrink from 12 to eight storeys.
Further towers were reduced from eight to six storeys, seven to five storeys, six to four and four to three.
Nearby resident Richard Tolchard said: "The first scheme was outrageous. The current one is merely unacceptable.
"I would say the current scheme is not sympathetic to the conservation area. It would be a carbuncle on the site and on the surrounding area.
"It's glass, white concrete and wood in a neighbourhood which is generally brick. Residents fear that the high levels of social housing mean that locals wouldn't have the chance to buy them if they wanted to."
The site at 443-451 Westferry Road - which was formerly occupied by travellers - would feature 1.62 acres of open space, 0.87 acres of public space and 0.74 acres of private garden. It will be powered by bio-fuels and provide 100 car spaces, with no street parking permits available to homeowners.
But locals remain unconvinced by the density of the project, which stands at 548 habitable rooms per hectare. They also highlighted issues with the vehicle access point on the bend of Westferry Road.
Gill Crawford said: "We have grave concerns about the development. It's still a dense development, which could have up to 1,000 people there.
"We're worried that they may market the Pride development as a prestigious site, and we might be the cheaper option. It just doesn't seem equitable, and we're worried about the mix.
"I think eight storeys is still far too much. There are no buildings of eight storeys here apart from on the riverside.
"We want to see that area developed, but we want something we as residents can be proud of, which will be around for many years. We don't think this is very well worked out."
Glenkerrin commented that the public forum was the third it had provided for residents, and that all three had been "constructive".