“Controversial” planning application to build houses on playing fields shelved
Developers Greg Kavanagh and Patrick Crean have pulled out of a planning application to build more than 350 homes and apartments on playing fields in Raheny, North Dublin.
Opponents to the development by Crekav Landback Developments, part of Kavanagh and Crean’s New Generation Homes group, said that the playing fields were used by hundreds of children on a weekly basis, as well by local GAA, soccer and rugby clubs. The proposed site is located on playing fields surrounding St Paul’s College secondary school, next to St Anne’s Park.
No explanation was provided for the withdrawing of planning permission at this time for the 86 houses and 270 apartments. The group declared its intention to resubmit an application again next year, according to the Irish Times.
While Crekav pledged the building new all-weather pitch, Meadow Residents’ Association member Ronan McCoy argued that the provision of one pitch to replace five playing fields was not sufficient.
Deirdre Tobin, chairwoman of the Clontarf Residents Association, declared that “We may have won this battle, but we still haven’t won the war.” She indicated that her group would oppose any reapplication, as New Generation will now be allowed to view all the objections and change their application accordingly before reapplying.
