Plans for 732 new residential units in the Liberties will be met with 'local outrage' according to a City Councillor.
Developers Hines and APG have submitted proposals to refurbish the Player Wills factory building on the South Circular Road, and add on to it.
Those new builds will be between 2 and 19 storeys in height, with two new parks alongside them.
Local Councillor Tina McVeigh says the wishes of the local people have been ignored:
"They look at this, and they ask: Where is the community voice in this?"
"We attended so-called consultations, we set out our views and what's been proposed is the antithesis of that."
"Of what the community has expressed as something that they see, which could be developed on the site, that would enhance the area."
"I expect that there's going to be local outrage to the proposals made today."
Developers Hines and APG have submitted plans for 732 residential units at the Player Wills factory in the Liberties.
These will go up to 19 stories high and include two new public parks, alongside three apartment blocks by the old factory building. pic.twitter.com/SrsOsOHhCZ— Tom Douglas (@TomDouglas95) December 16, 2020
Hines Boss Insists Local Feedback Was Listened To
Managing Director with Hines Ireland Gary Corrigan has the opposite opinion however:
“Hines and APG are delighted to submit this second planning submission in which we will deliver much needed residential accommodation and extensive new amenity, community and outdoor recreational spaces."
Gary said, “Our extensive engagement with local residents over the past 18 months was a turning point in determining our approach with the much loved Player Wills building."
"On foot of feedback received from our 2 Open Days, we altered our original plan and now are proposing the retention and creative reimagining of the entire original building and façade."
He added, "In our next application early next year, we will look to develop a full multi-code outdoor playing pitch and changing rooms."
It Will 'Radically Change' The Community
However Cllr McVeigh says the tallest buildings are going to dwarf everything else in the area:
"Obviously we welcome development of the site, and we welcome residential development."
"However I think the proposals currently are going to radically change the community."
"The height of 19 storeys that's proposed for this part of the site is completely out of kilter with the character of the surrounding area."
"It's much more sparsely dense in terms of buildings that the other end, which is the Bailey Gibson site."
Planning permission was granted for over 400 units at the Bailey Gibson site earlier this year.
However that's on hold while a judicial review takes place.
