Planning Application submitted for Dublin Mountains Visitor Centre– 1st August 2017
A planning application for the proposed Dublin Mountains Visitor Centre in South Dublin County has been lodged with An Bord Pleanála.
The planned Dublin Mountains Visitor Centre is a joint development proposal by South Dublin County Council, Coillte and the Dublin Mountains Partnership to create a new “gateway” to the Dublin Mountains located at the combined Massy’s Wood /Estate and Montpelier Hill incorporating the legendary Hell Fire Club site. At an estimated cost of €15 million, the centre will be constructed from natural materials and integrated into the landscape setting with extensive panoramic views of Dublin City.
The Dublin Mountains Visitor Centre development is founded on a vision that the history, landscape, heritage and amenity of the Dublin Mountains should be promoted as a resource for the enjoyment of the people of South Dublin and for visitors to the area from elsewhere in Ireland and abroad. The project will also provide long term economic benefits by increasing tourism, generating additional spend on local goods and services and creating new employment opportunities in South Dublin County.
The visitor centre will comprise a dedicated interpretative exhibition and educational facility as well as a café and shop, a rambler’s lounge and toilets. There will be enhanced access to the site with increased car parking and public transport, road improvements and the construction of a new footpath to the site. The proposal will also deliver improved quality and quantity of walks and trails for people of all ages and abilities incorporating an iconic tree-top walkway/bridge from Montpelier Hill into Massy’s Wood.
The proposal provides for the enhancement of the mountain landscape around the visitor centre by replacing large areas of commercial coniferous forest on the eastern slopes of Montpelier Hill with broad-leaved woodland and predominantly indigenous native species.
The submission of the planning application follows extensive public/stakeholder engagement by South Dublin County Council and Coillte. This process enabled the project team to take into account key local issues raised and incorporate them into the design plans, ensuring the preservation of the landscape, ecology and heritage features of the unique, natural and made environment of the Dublin Mountains in a manner that is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.
The proposed Dublin Mountains Visitor Centre has been designed by a multi-disciplinary project team led by Paul Keogh Architects. The Planning Application and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report in relation to this project have been submitted on South Dublin County Council’s behalf to An Bord Pleanála on Monday 31st July 2017.
All interested parties will be able to view and download the application on the An Bord Pleanála Website http://www.pleanala.ie/ and the Council’s dedicated project information pages http://www.sdcc.ie/services/parks-and-recreation/dublin-mountains-project
The documents will also be available for inspection at the offices of An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 and South Dublin County Council’s headquarters at County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
Please note that members of the public should make their submissions on the planning application directly to An Bord Pleanála.