Imagine Dundrum held our third Webinar on Tuesday, the 6th of December. We had 58 attending, keen to hear where things stand in respect of the planning application for the old Shopping Centre, and to add to our knowledge and understanding of heritage and longterm sustainability in respect of Dundrum.
The session was opened by Nick Armstrong,a member of Imagine Dundrum,who informed us that a decision by An Bord Pleanala on the Hammerson-Allianz application is still pending, with no indication of a timeline. In the meantime, Imagine Dundrum remains committed to its vision for Dundrum, and through this webinar to explore in greater depth the topics chosen.
Our Chair for the evening was Dr. Paula Russell of the School of Archtecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, with a special interest in the role of community in planning. She was particularly positive about Imagine Dundrum’s vision and its ongoing activities in influencing the future of Dundrum village. She emphasised the importance of “placemaking”, and thinks that urban areas would benefit significantly if there were more ”fine grain plans“ providing context clarity for developers and communities.
The first presentation was by Deirdre Black, Heritage Officer with DLR County Council. She brought us speedily through 10,000 years of Dundrum’s history via a thoroughly engaging set of drawings, maps and photographs, ending with a sharp focus on Dundrum today, before finishing by identifying the outcomes likely to arise for Dundrum and its communities if certain options are adopted. Food for thought indeed.
She was followed by Dr. Philip Crowe who works in UCD, specialising in Climate Responsive design, while co-leading an EU project in Green Buildings and Neighbourhoods. He explained in simple terms what is meant by “urban resilience”, why we need it and what it’s likely to mean in practice, especially in Dundrum. His slides added considerably to our understanding of the critical nature of the issues already arising from current practices. This enhanced awareness increases the Dundrum community’s capacity to become meaningfully involved in shaping future developments.
Dr. Russell managed a lively Q and A session, putting questions and observations from attendees to the Panel for comment.
Cllr Anne Colgan, Chair of Imagine Dundrum, closed the evening, thanking the Chair and the presenters for their generosity in providing their time and considerable expertise to the Dundrum community. They have stimulated further thought on how best Dundrum Village should be developed. Their insights will also inform our engagement with DLR County Council on the draft Local Area Plan for Dundrum, due shortly.
A recording of this webinar will be posted on our website as soon as possible.
Building Dundrum’s Best Future: how new thinking on heritage and environmental sustainability can help create the Dundrum of tomorrow
Welcome and introduction: Nick Armstrong, Imagine Dundrum
A Word from the Chair: Dr Paula Russell, UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy
Heritage: People and Place Through Time: Deirdre Black, Heritage Officer, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Co. Council
Future-proof: Building a More Resilient Dundrum: Dr Philip Crowe, UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy
Q and A: questions and comments for the panel
Conclusion: Anne Colgan, Chair, Imagine Dundrum
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Dr Paula Russell lectures at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in: History and Theory of Planning, the Role of Community in Planning and Local Plan Making. She researches the role of civil society in the planning process, looking at issues of engagement and influence. She has a broad interest in urban policy issues, is a member of the board of the European Urban Research Association (EURA) and an Associate Editor of the journal Urban Research and Practice.
Deirdre Black, Heritage Officer with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, previously advised public agencies on heritage, active travel, sustainable tourism and landscape strategy and worked across Ireland in community-led placemaking. A professional Landscape Architect, she has been a Design Fellow at the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy in UCD and a Visiting Lecturer at the Centre for Planning Education and Research in UCC.
Dr Philip Crowe lectures in Climate Responsive Design in the UCD Schools of Architecture and Engineering, and is co-Director of UCD’s Centre for Irish Towns. He is a co-leader of the EU funded project Green Buildings and Neighbourhoods, and the Creative Ireland Ripple project on citizen engagement with climate change. His research includes work on urban resilience, vacancy and adaptive reuse, and revitalisation of towns. He was formerly Director of Sustainable Design with M.CO design and project management consultancy for 9 years.
On Tuesday December 6th from 8 pm to 9.30 pm, Imagine Dundrum will host the third in our series of webinars focusing on Dundrum’s future. Join us!
With no decision yet from An Bord Pleanála on the Hammerson-Allianz Planning Application for the core of Dundrum, we have a great opportunity to explore new ideas for the Dundrum of tomorrow with those who live and work here. Changes are certainly coming, but what changes do we want, and how can we influence the future of our home place?
This webinar will delve into two areas of vital importance for Dundrum’s future, both focusing on buildings:
* Heritage: People and Place Through Time
Deirdre Black, Heritage Officer, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
We will hear about exciting new thinking and policy-making on the value for local communities of a living relationship with heritage, showing how care for and use of heritage buildings is crucial for sustainable urban development.
* Future-proof: Building a More Resilient Dundrum
Dr Philip Crowe, UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy will explore ways of future-proofing Dundrum by ensuring climate resilience is central to planning the urban village of tomorrow.
The webinar will run for around an hour and a half, including ample time for questions and comments from participants. All are welcome!
To register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QrRr0o9XSrSQNr68RMCxkw
Information and contact: Email: imaginedundrum2016@gmail.comx
And you can find us on Facebook!
Members of Imagine Dundrum and a representative of the Capital Credit Union following receipt of a cheque for 1,000 euro.
As announced in the national news today, An Bord Pleanála has received over 700 objections, including 8 from residents’ associations and 1 from a primary school, to the Hammerson–Allianz plans for an apartment scheme of over 880 units in Dundrum Village. The plans for this Strategic Housing Development envisage a series of 11 blocks with heights rising from 5 storeys on MainStreet to 16 storeys at the north end of the site.
Welcoming this news, Anne Colgan, Chair of local community group Imagine Dundrum, said, “this outstanding outcome demonstrates the strength of feeling among local people about the future of their home place, as did the huge turnout at the public meeting we hosted at the end of April. It is a tribute to the hard work of Imagine Dundrum members and many other local individuals and groups whose vision of the future Dundrum is radically different from that offered by the developers. We are grateful to everyone who made the effort to engage with the long and complex planning application and took the time to submit a personal observation.”
So the deadline for submissions to An Bord Pleanala (ABP) passed last Monday at 5.30 pm.
The options open to ABP are threefold: APPROVE planning permission, REFUSE planning permission, or Approve subject to conditions.
ABP is required to publish its DECISION by Monday July 25th, at the latest, but it may do so before that date.
Over the course of the weeks since the plans were published, Imagine Dundrum has been encouraged by the support we have received from our friends and neighbours in Dundrum and its environs. If the attendance at our public meeting and our drop-in clinics and the number of queries and supportive messages is anything to go by, ABP will have a considerable volume of quality submissions to consider before making its decision. Our own submission will be posted on our website www.imaginedundrum.ie shortly. Our core message is to recommend refusal to these plans.
We take this opportunity to thank everybody who has made a submission and all who have supported Imagine Dundrum in our efforts since 2016 to influence a positive outcome for Dundrum Village. We look forward to linking up with you again as the decision date approaches.
Our Vision for Dundrum will be a place that respects and reflects its unique history and heritage, and will be a thriving, attractive and welcoming place for everyone in the local community, those who work here, and its many visitors.
Imagine Dundrum needs your support. If you share our vision for the future of Dundrum, please sign here.
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