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Dublin City Council has refused permission for contentious plans for a short-term emergency accommodation 72-ensuite bedroom “homeless hub” on Dublin’s Mount Street Lower.
The proposed homeless hub was opposed by a number of local residents.
In refusing planning permission to Lower Mount Street Accommodation Ltd, the council concluded that the scheme “would not provide adequate residential amenity to future occupants and would result in a substandard form of development”.
In its refusal, the council said that it had serious concerns the applicant has not adequately demonstrated compliance with Dublin City Development Plan 2022-2028 under the heading of family hubs and the 2022 Guidelines for Development of New Emergency Accommodation.
The council says that specifically, this is in relation to substandard bedroom sizes, the lack of provision of bedroom units suitable for a person with a disability and the inadequate provision of family living space, storage space, study areas, buggy storage and kitchen facilities.
In its refusal, the council also noted that the applicant has not indicated an end user for the proposed facility.
The council concluded that the scheme would therefore create an undesirable precedent for similar development.
And it would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
The city council planner’s report said that “a significant number of bedrooms fall below the minimum sizes and whilst this is a conversion project, no justification is provided for this approach”.
The applicants were seeking permission for the change of use of an existing office building to a family hub to facilitate a short-term emergency accommodation development for homeless families.
A report lodged with the scheme by McCutcheon Halley Planning Consultants said that the layout of the proposed scheme had been informed by the acute need for family hubs to facilitate a short-term emergency accommodation development for homeless families.
The report said that “the proposed development will offer essential emergency accommodation for families who unexpectedly lose their homes, often due to situations such as eviction or financial difficulty”.
It states that facilities like family hubs are designed to provide a safe and temporary living environment while families collaborate with local authorities and other agencies to find more permanent housing solutions.
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