COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)

Monday, June 16, 2008

HEADED ITEM NO. 16

HEADED ITEM: H. Department

Report on Belgard Residential Caravan Park

REPLY:

There have been ongoing discussions between the Housing Department, South Dublin County Council and the Institute of Technology, Tallaght on the proposals to redevelop the Residential Caravan Park at Belgard Road. An initial assessment carried out by the Architects Department had indicated that the redevelopment of the site could not be accomplished without acquiring extra land. As the site on which the Caravan Park is situated is surrounded on three sides by the campus of the College and is fronted along the Belgard Road itself, the Council entered into negotiations to acquire the extra land required from the College, or to relocate the site to a larger portion of land within the confines of the College campus, previously indicated on the Colleges own Master Plan

A number of meetings took place between senior officials of the Housing Department and representatives of management of the college, and following a protracted consultation period, the decision of the management of the college was that they were not prepared to negotiate on the sale of land. Correspondence issued from the Senior Executive Officer, Housing Department, requesting that the Board of Management of the College reconsider their decision and the reply from the President of the College reiterated that the College was not in a position to negotiate any land swap or sale.  ( Copy of correspondence received in this regard is attached with this report. ).

The Housing Department has now requested the Architects Department to prepare a plan for the redevelopment of the site, in accordance with the requirements of the existing residents and within guidelines as set down by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Architects Department have also been requested to consider the access arrangements for the existing or redeveloped site, as the current entrance lies along the emerging preferred route of the Metro line. The Housing Department is also now assessing procedures to prepare a Compulsory Purchase Order to acquire whatever extra land, as identified by the Architects Department report, is required to carry out this redevelopment.