The New South Circular Road Cycle Lane: ideas to improve

It’s finally coming! I’ve been pushing for a long time for some kind of cycle protection along the South Circular Road, running from Suir Road Luas stop to the Phoenix Park. Last September I set out an idea for a two-way segregated cycle track, but after discussing in detail with a city engineer, it seems …

Co-Living application for Kilmainham: why it should be rejected

Below is an observation I submitted against a co-livng plan for the Carrigan’s Pub site on Old Kilmainham. I would like to see the site developed for housing for rent or purchase, but think that co-living is a bad housing model. Update: Dublin City Council rightly rejected the application in March 2021. You can read …

Why the Kilmainham hotel plan is a bad one

Planning observation: Developers have applied for planning permission for a new hotel in Kearn’s Place, just off Old Kilmainham. The site should be developed for housing, which is permitted in the zoning. This proposal seems like a mad idea. Update: The planning permission was rejected by Dublin City Council, which the developers appealed. An Bord …

Dublin needs a supervised injection facility: my submission to An Bord Pleanála

Planning observation: Dublin City Council rejected a planning application by a charity to open up a supervised injection facility (SIF) on Merchant’s Quay – the heart of Dublin city centre’s drug problem. I think the Council got it wrong: a SIF could reduce overdoses, deaths, needle littering, and public injecting. It’s a humane, decent response …

Newmarket development changes: why is only community benefit space cut?

Planning observation: Developers sought permission to amend their planning permission. This is fairly standard and totally fine. In this case, it was largely to accommodate and ESB substation. But what’s not right is that their plan was to cut space from the market space and the artist’s studio. Here’s my planning observation: