Introductory Meetings - Forum Design Groups - August 1999
Balcurris - Coultry - Shangan - Sillogue and Poppintree Estate Forums
and
Ballymun Regeneration Ltd / Project Architects
A series of introductory meetings took place on August 4th - 5th - 6th -7th and 11th in Stormanstown House. In attendance also was Noel Martin, Secretary of Ballymun Housing Task Force. Chairing the meetings were Michael McDonagh and Aidan O’Connor (BRL).
Each meeting operated through an agreed agenda and began with the representatives of the architectural practices giving a summary of their experiences in design and planning.
The range of experience of the combined architectural practices ranged from designing local authority and private houses and apartments, through to factory design and design of facilities such as football pitches. In short there was a range of experience and skills compatible with the requirements for the designing of the new town of Ballymun.
The delegations from the Estate Forums were informed that having followed established procedures, a number of architectural practices have been contracted to design clusters of dwellings and community facilities.
• Basic budgets were being agreed. These budgets needed to be reasonably flexible in order to cater for special needs etc.
• A re-location policy was being developed through the BRL Housing Group in which each Forum has a right to representation.
• A basic programme for planning the new dwellings was distributed and public meetings were held in each Forum area. The programme went through several stages:
1. In one month the architects would draft basic designs, having consulted with the Forum Design Groups and surveyed the areas.
2. In six weeks there would be a draft proposal that will lead to;
3. Planning Application stage, which would incorporate Scheme Designs - Schedule of Accommodation - List of Tenants for the new-build.
In order to get the ideas across to the community, a number of methods would be used including designs, models, photographs and trips to areas where various design types can be viewed.
The Ballymun Housing Task Force representative strongly recommended that the idea of one-bed accommodation be reconsidered in favour of ‘bedroom +study’ type of dwelling. BRL and the architects took on board this idea.
The Estate Forums expressed concern that long term tenants should not be discriminated against simply because they might not be in the dwellings due early demolition. BRL explained that a number of new dwellings over and above the number required, would be built in the early phases. Some of these would be used to accommodate those long term tenants (15 years or more) who would wish to avail of the particular area. If there were more applicants than dwellings available in the particular phase then the dwellings will be allocated on a lottery basis. Some of the extra dwellings would be used to help create sustainability within the community by being put up for purchase, in the first case to Ballymunners who wish to buy their own house and remain in the community. Precautions would be taken to avoid speculators buying dwellings.
Because of the limited amount of land available for development on the east side of the estate, Coultry and Shangan Estate Forums would from time to time need to be involve in joint consultation.
Neighbourhood Parks:
Four options for the development of the major park that serves Coultry and Shangan were examined along with ways to create quality recreation and sporting space which would have easy access for both communities.
Similarly in Balcurris, the park that serves Poppintree and Balcurris should continue to serve the community. Ways and means would have to be found that would ensure that the community have a say in the management of the park which will incorporate a number of football pitches. The value of the pitches and the service to the community that clubs such as Ballymun United provide is important to the community, but there would be resistance if the park is handed over to any one organisation for exclusive use.
In Sillogue there was concern that a pending High Court case might at best delay the process of new-build or at worse, damage the entire regeneration process.
Buildings of more than two-storeys:
There was a lot of concern on the estate at the proposals to build maisonettes which were described by the Forum reps. as ‘flats over flats’. The main reasons for this were noise(unruly neighbours), flooding by neighbours overhead and fire risk.
Ballymun Regeneration Ltd accepted these fears and would make every effort to alleviate the fears of the community, should the need arise to build dwellings over two storey high.
Car Parks:
Ballymun Regeneration Ltd fielded the notion of on-street parking for all new dwellings. The Estate Forums had certain concerns but would await detailed proposals on the issue before recommending on-street or front garden-parking.
Start-up date for phase 1:
Providing there are no major hitches in the planning application process, BRL hoped to make a start of the first dwellings by Easter, 1999 with the first hand-over in early 2000.
Social mix:
BRL were advised to avoid creating areas that would be seen as either high family content areas or mainly single or elderly population areas.
Main Street / Traffic Calming:
Apartment type dwellings would form part of the main street development. Some of these might be made available for Ballymun tenants who indicate a preference for same.
The main street would be narrowed and developed in a manner that will create slow moving traffic. It was hoped that these measures would encourage short-hop traffic to divert through the M50.
Tenant’s Choice:
Shortly prior to the hand-over period, the tenants would be offered a choice of a limited number of household items e.g. kitchen units, front doors etc. The full range of items would be put on display in the main exhibition hall in Stormanstown House at the appropriate time.
This page was updated on 1st September, 2005