Council gives green light for 618 Dublin apartments despite rodent concerns
Gordon Deegan
Dublin City Council has granted planning permission for 618 apartments at the former Chivers factory at Coolock in Dublin 17, despite concerns expressed by the makers of Cadbury chocolate.
This follows the council granting a seven-year planning permission to London-based Platinum Lands Ltd for the Large Scale Residential Developments (LRD) plans for the 618 units at the former Chivers Factory, Coolock Drive, Coolock.
The applicants had lodged plans for 621 units last November in four 10-storey blocks.
The makers of Cadbury chocolate, MondelÄz Europe, had raised a significant concern over rodent migration from the apartment block construction site to its chocolate production plant, “of national significance” in Coolock, Dublin.
At the Coolock plant, Cadbury produces some of its best-known chocolate brands, including Twirl, Flake, Boost, and Cadbury Dairy Milk.
In a submission to the Council, planning consultants, Cunnane Stratton Reynolds for MondelÄz Europe, under the heading of ‘Rodent and Pest Concerns, told the council that “it is a significant concern that there will be a rodent migration onto our client's site during the demolition and construction phase”.
The submission stated that “this is particularly a concern for a food processing facility of national significance and standing”.
The consultants stated that this should be a significant component in the requested Construction Demolition Waste Management Plan (CDWMP) for the application.
Cadbury Ireland has maintained a presence in the country since 1933, and the Coolock factory has been operational since 1956, serving the business for nearly 70 years.
Cunnane Stratton Reynolds stated that the facility operates 24/7 and they tell the Council that “in the event that planning permission is granted, the operation of our client's factory must not be compromised by any future residents of the scheme on noise pollution grounds”.
In response to the chocolate maker’s concerns, the Council has ordered the applicants to adhere to a number of Environmental Health Section Division requirements in the grant of permission.
These include that the results of the noise and vibration monitoring carried out during the demolition and construction phase shall be made available to this unit on request, and that all site works must follow best practices for managing air and noise emissions to prevent nuisance to neighbouring occupants.
The Council has also included a condition that the development shall be operated and managed to ensure that emissions such as malodour, dust, fumes or other deleterious materials do not give reasonable cause for annoyance to any person in any residence, adjoining unit or public place in the vicinity.
The Council also states that mitigation measures set out in sections of the Construction Management Plan shall be strictly adhered to.
A planning report lodged by Stephen Little & Associates for the applicants stated that the proposed residential dwellings on residentially zoned land within the Dublin city and suburbs administrative area, “contribute to much-needed housing supply during the current housing crisis”.
The report stated that the scheme represents a well-designed and considered development that achieves a sustainable density, in line with national policy guidance.
The planning report stated that a previous planning permission on the site in 2019 allowed for 550 apartment units with building heights ranging between six and 10 storeys.
The report stated that “the current proposal maintains the maximum building height of 10 storeys and represents only a 13pc increase in the number of units”.
