PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT OF THE ALEXANDER BASIN

2nd April, 2014

Earlier this month, the Dublin Port Company formally lodged a planning application with An Bord Pleanala seeking to redevelop the Alexander Basin and to carry out other associated works.  Both myself and Councillor Ray McAdam previously advised residents that the Port Company had been meeting An Bord Pleanala to discuss their plans and the project could be forwarded through the planning process.  Unlike ordinary planning applications where they are lodged with the local authority.  An Bord Pleanala has agreed with Dublin Port Company that this project should be considered until the Strategic Infrastructure Act 2006.

 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Under the Strategic Infrastructure Act, a planning Application can be lodged directly with An Bord Pleanala should it to be a strategic importance to the State.  Given the size of the application and the importance of redeveloping the Port to the economy of the city and the state, An Bord Pleanala has determined that this project meets the criteria as laid down in the Strategic Infrastructure Act.   Therefore, Dublin Port Company lodged the application on 6th March 2014.  A public consultation process is now underway with local residents or other interested groups having the opportunity to comment or make an observation on the application until 7th May next.  It is also worth nothing that An Bord Pleanala reserves the right to hold an Oral Hearing should the issues highlighted in the consultative process require it.

 

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ASPECTS OF THE APPLICATION?

–          Deepening and reconfiguring the Alexander Basin to cater for larger vessels, i.e. Cruise Liners;

–          The demolition of the existing berths 52 and 53 and replacing them with new river birth and the increasing of landward storage areas;

–          The deepening of the approach channels along the Liffey to cater for larger vessels;

–          The construction of new quay walls at  North Wall Quay Extension including a rounding eastern end;

–          The dredging of the Liffey and the removal of contaminated materials.

 

LOCAL CONSULTATION TO DATE

Dublin Port Company has held a number of public information sessions in the past week.  These events have been organised in order to give communities located near the Port the opportunity to review the plans and pose questions about how the redevelopment will impact on them.  The information meeting that took place in the East Wall Community Centre earlier this week was well attended and some issues of concern were raised.  Questions were raised about the impact of noise during the construction phase.  Other points raised include the potential for local employment arising from the proposed development and the possibility of a new community garden in East Wall.  These are issues that myself, Councillor Ray McAdam and Patrick Martin will be seeking to have addressed during the planning process.

 

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you would like additional information about particular aspects of this planning application or if you have questions about the process involved, please contact me and I will do whatever I can to be of assistance.  Any submissions/observations on the Dublin Port planning application should be sent to An Bord Pleanala, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1.

 

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