Project Update: Planning advice on works to Protected Structures
Procedural planning advice remains a central part of Urb’s Planning Services. As a a Chartered Town Planner with 16 years experience in the Irish Planning system, Richard Hamilton provides clients with robust advice on vital development and investment decisions.
Urb was recently appointed by Deercove Ltd. to provide procedural planning advice on the exempted status of works to a Protected Structure in Dublin.
Project Update: Dublin BID Submission to the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) on Luas Broombridge scheme construction phase.
2013 will see the commencement of construction of a new light rail line for Dublin linking Stephen’s Green to Broombridge Station via Dawson Street, College Green and O'Connell Street (and others). This 4 year project is perhaps the largest ever infrastructure scheme to run through the heart of Dublin city centre, and poses great challenges for businesses and visitors to the city core.
Dublin City BID (Business Improvement District) have appointed Urb in association with JB Barry & Partners, Consulting Engineers to engage with businesses and the RPA so as to address construction phase challenges in a pro-active manner at the pre-tender stage. Detailed consideration of street manangement, communications, traffic plans and contractual obligations are key factors to manage the process of change for the city centre.
Urb’s expertise in Place Management complemented JB Barry’s engineering skill, to assess construction and operational phases of the works.
Project Update: Greater London Authority: Integrated Impact Assessment for White City OAPF
GLA have contracted Richard Hamilton to prepare an updated SA and EqIA for the Draft White City Opportunity Area Planning Framework which is being produced jointly by GLA with London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and Transport for London.
Covering an area of 110 Ha. White City Opportunity Area is one of 33 opportunity areas identified in the Mayor’s London Plan. The OAPF will help resolve complex planning issues relating to the provision of significant residential and commercial growth. This provides for a new community of some 5,000 homes and 10,000 jobs over the next 15 to 20 years.
The IIA incorporates the statutory requirements for Sustainability Appraisal (SA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA). The IIA process assisted the development of the Draft OAPF document as well as assessing the potential impacts
Project: Grafton Street renewal.
Urb and JB Barry Consulting Engineers were appointed by Dublin City BID to represent Grafton Street retailers regarding the City‘s new Part 8 streetscape proposals (providing for repaving & new fixtures). The Consultant team worked with the BID and the street’s retailers to represent thier ambitions for a world-class street (both visually and functionally). Urb’s expertise in Place Management complemented JB Barry’s engineering skill, to assess construction and operational phases of the works (note: Grafton Street is Ireland’s premier shopping street and is one of the busiest pedestrian streets in Europe).
Digital Realty Trust has been granted planning permission by South Dublin County Council (1st March 2012) forafor Data Centre Facility on a 4Ha. acre site at Profile Park, South Dublin. The project involves the construction of 4 data centre buildings totalling some 23,000 sq.m.
Urb provided planning advice to the design team in the pre-planning stage, planning procedure and negotiations with the Local Authority on Financial Contributions and development phasing.
Sligo Chamber of Commerce is a strong supporter of Town Centre retail and investment, and has retained Urb on a number of occasions to advise on planning issues in the town and environs.
The recession isn’t just hitting town centres hard. Retail Parks originally permitted for ‘bulky goods’ warehouse retailing, are also under pressure, and seeking to diversify their offer into highstreet comparison and convenience retailing. This is a trend that is recognised in the 2011 Draft Retail Planning Guidelines.
Urb has submitted a Referral to An Bord Pleanala on behalf of Sligo Chamber of Commerce as to whether one of the retailers who occupies this planning grey area, at the out-of-town Sligo Retail Park is in fact in breach of the ‘parent’ permission and the Retail Guidelines. This is perhaps the most important Referral case since TX Maxx in Waterford, and is will be an important decision for retailing around the country (due around August).
Projects: Fáilte Ireland (Irish Tourist Board) November 2011
Briefing Paper on implications of shared surfaces for destination/tourist town centres, its potential impact on the historic core, and its alignment with a broader picture of the management of the town centre (and as such the Tourist/Visitor product), visitor attractions and the day to day activities of the town centre.
Greater London Authority (GLA) appointed Richard Hamilton on contract to City Hall in London from December 2011 to February 2012.
This project entailed the preparation of a Draft IIA (Integrated Impact Assessment) in support of the preparation of the Croydon Opportunity Planning Framework(OAPF); a partnership between GLA, Transport for London and London Borough of Croydon Council.
Covering an area of 194 Ha. Croydon Opportunity Area is one of 33 opportunity areas identified in the Mayor’s London Plan. This provides for a new community of 7,300 homes (17,000 people) over the next 20 years, up to 95,000 sq.m. of new commercial space along with substantial refurbishment/ redevelopment of existing stock, and a focussed growth in the retail sector.
The IIA incorporates the statutory requirements for Sustainability Appraisal (SA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA). The IIA process assisted the development of the Draft OAPF document as well as assessing the potential impacts.
Urb was commissioned by Carlow Local Authorities to prepare an updated Draft Retail Strategy for the Greater Carlow Graiguecullen UrbanArea in February 2012 in support of a new Joint Spatial Plan for the area (http://bit.ly/wF5bro).
This Retail Strategy was prepared against a very different context to its predecessors. While former strategies faced the challenge of how to manage and direct rapid economic and demographic growth, this strategy is set against a backdrop of recession, population stabilisation, and fiscal conservatism. It also had the advantage of reviewing the impacts and consequences of previous strategies and what has transpired for retail in the town, and planning overall.
This Draft Retail Strategy was prepared to an extremely tight timescale and budget reflecting the difficult challenges Local Authorities face in balancing significantly reduced resources with statutory obligations to prepare fit-for-purpose strategies in accordance with Ministerial Guidelines (2005 Retail Planning Guidelines and Draft 2011 Retail Planning Guidelines).
The Draft Strategy proposes a proactive response to Town Centre Retail, highlighting the important potential of the new National Policy Objectives in the Draft 2011 Retail Planning Guidelines.
The strategy emphasises the potential for new retail development to have a positive impact on urban design with long-term sustainable uses, and contribution to the town, where mixed-use and urban renewal is appropriate.
We also highlighted that new development create, or positively contribute towards, a connected network of streets and spaces, putting the requirements of pedestrians and cyclists as a priority by creating direct routes that connect to the main areas of shopping activity.
Note: Carlow Local Authorities comprise Carlow County Council, Laois County Council & Carlow Town Council
Urb has been appointed by Digital Realty Trust to provide professional planning advice as part of the design team to develop their facility at Profile Park, West Dublin. Richard Hamilton of Urb was planning advisor for the Masterplan, EIS and Planning Application for Profile Park which was granted permission in 2007. Profile Properties’ commitment to the implementation of the masterplan’s roads and services infrastructure to the highest quality, is reflected in the current investment at the site, with Google recently choosing Profile Parrk for their date centre.