A city councillor has called for the introduction of an emergency ban on office development in the docklands, following a report from Owen Reilly that office space was set to well outstrip residential development in Dublin’s docklands. The proposal comes on foot of a 35,000 square metre office development being granted permission in the docklands yesterday (Tuesday).

Speaking on the matter, Cllr. Éilis Ryan (Workers’ Party, North Inner City) said:
“It has been clear for some time that office development is outstripping residential development in the docklands. The Owen Reilly report proves that the docklands is nowhere near reaching the 50% residential development required under the area’s development rules.

“My question is, why has the Minister, An Bord Pleanála or Dublin City Council not stepped in to enforce these rules?”

The councillor intends to propose an emergency motion at January’s Dublin City Council meeting, calling on Minister Eoghan Murphy to amend the area’s planning scheme, in order to prevent further commercial development being granted planning permission.
“I learned today that yet another 35,000 sqm of office space has been granted planning permission in the north docks. In my objection to the application, I stated that the residential development commitments for the north docks have not been met, and that for An Bord Pleanála to continue granting permission to commercial development effectively undermines the planning scheme’s own objectives.

“If we want to solve the housing crisis, we must first protect our most valuable asset – land. In January, I will be asking my fellow councillors to support this emergency ban on office development. Without this, we may as well say goodbye to housing for the inner city.”

She concluded:
“For existing development initiatives led by NAMA or receivers operating on behalf of NAMA, the Minister should enter into immediate negotiations to increase the residential quota of those developments.”