COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (2)
Monday, November 28, 2011
QUESTION NO. 1
QUESTION: Councillor M. Devine
“To ask the Manager to provide an update on the future plans for the “New Bancroft” scheme where construction works has long ceased. To include in the report assurances as to the safety of the vacant and semi-constructed site?”
REPLY:
In their application on the 26th August 2011 to extend Planning Permission Register Reference No: SDO6A/O1 07/EP, Viscount Securities, state that they have “commenced and completed a significant portion of the proposed development to date and has every intention of completing the development in the near future.
Both lower and upper basement car parks are 95% complete and require only traffic management elements to be put in place. Block D (SOIA/021 1) is complete and 95% occupied, Block Cl (Affordable Units) is 90% complete, Block C2 is weathered, while Blocks A and B are shells only. Discussions are on going in relation to the pedestrian plaza. However due to the unprecedented collapse of the property and financial sectors, especially in relation to apartment demand, it has not been possible to progress this development any further at this time”.
The South Dublin County Council has been in discussions with Park Developments for just over a year with a view to ensuring completion of the development. Members of the Planning and Architects Department met the developer and the project architect on a number of occasions and agreed an approach. The outstanding elements of brickwork were completed on the development subsequently but the glazing work remains unfinished.
The developer has indicated that the successful attraction of a retail tenant will allow the resumption of the construction, but that this has not yet materialised. It is also apparent that there are certain issues that have yet to be resolved within the joint venture partnership that is behind the development and that progress on the site is unlikely until this happens.
In terms of providing assurances as to the safety of the vacant and semi-constructed site, the owner has a “duty of care” in relation to the site. If the Council has a concern or receives a complaint that the owner is not fulfilling his responsibility, the matter would be referred to either the Environmental Health Officer or the Dangerous Buildings Section for assessment and appropriate action.
The site is surrounded by hoarding and is not accessible. Notices on the hoarding indicate that the site is protected by G4S Monitoring (Ire) Ltd.