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TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN has been given planning permission to build a 358-bed extension to its student accommodation in Dartry despite objections from locals.
The university lodged plans for the development at Trinity Hall in May, prompting a slew of complaints from nearby residents about potential noise and anti-social behaviour.
The proposal will see the demolition of Cunningham House (containing 70 student bedspaces currently on the campus), and the construction of four new blocks, ranging in height from a single story to eight storeys.
Trinity College will also build a multi-use sports hall and two new study spaces as part of the development.
The plans will increase the number of bedspaces on the campus to 1,283, and were submitted to An Bórd Pleanála as a so-called ‘strategic development’, allowing the university to bypass Dublin City Council in the planning process.
Consultants for TCD told the board that the proposal will “deliver and operate a best in class student residential scheme at Trinity Hall”.
They said the proposal would compliment existing student residences on the site and provide well-designed accommodation to facilitate learning and social development.
However, dozens of submissions from local residents raised concerns about the plans, with almost all of them referencing possible noise from students, anti-social behaviour, disruption and littering.
One couple who contacted the board said they experienced noise on a regular basis due to the large numbers of drunken students exiting Trinity Hall at night.
The wrote: “Screaming, shouting, urinating on the street and a trail of empty cans and bottles are typical features of this night time exodus.”
There were also questions from locals about the height and scale of the plans, with some suggesting the site was not appropriate for student accommodation because Darty is a regeneration area.
In its submissions to the planning board, Dublin City Council said the proposal is consistent with zoning objectives of the site and would consolidate student accommodation at existing residences.
The local authority also found that the development would have “no negative impacts on existing residential amenity of neighbouring property”. But it did not address concerns about student behaviour or noise.
In her report, An Bord Pleanála’s inspector Lorraine Dockery said she noted the submissions made by locals about anti-social behaviour and disruption, but said these were issues for gardaí and outside the remit of a planning application.
“In addition to continually monitoring the substantial CCTV network, staff carry out regular patrols of buildings and the grounds,” Dockery said.
“The main reception is manned 24/7. I am satisfied in this regard. It is inevitable that there will be some increased noise and footfall given the increase in population associated…
“I have no information before me to believe that this would be excessive.”
In granting permission, the board attached a condition that the development should only be occupied as student accommodation once built.
Contains reporting by Gordon Deegan.
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Council think it will have no negative impact?
They’ve clearly not lived near students who love to party. Especially not fun when you have to be up for work!
@Barry: There article said that antisocial behaviour was out of the scope of a planning application. The ‘no negative effect’ was in relation to the building, not the occupants.
@Barry: they actually come down hard on having parties within Trinity Hall, previously you were allowed one over-nihht guest who had to be signed in prior to 11PM and couldn’t re-enter after that, prior to 11 it was 3 guests who had to be gone by 11, at least those were the rules a few years ago.
Hence, parties on site aren’t the issue, coming and going to off-site parties could be an issue however
Have rent caps been considered in terms of this development. University rents are notoriously overpriced fuelling rent increases in the general rental market.
@Chris O’Connor: Trinity only made a net profit of circa 10 million on student accommodation in 2018, so little chance they will support your view
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/why-should-students-living-at-home-subsidise-those-living-in-campus-accommodation-1.4183312
No different to Temple Bar at weekends prior to Covid…. Smell of urine and vomit overpowering, empty cans and bottles, discarded food containers…. You know… The usual… But that was acceptable because the Pubs were creaming it. Now the ball is in a different court…..
Delighted. Temple road is still one of the quietest streets in Dublin. Plenty of room in the area. Students are largely very respectful in my experience.
Trinity should be ashamed of themselves being associated with this disaster of planning
No argument that the vast majority of students are respectful of local residents, but it only takes a few to cause mayhem. The college needs to take a no-tolerance approach to antisocial behaviour. One strike and your out and no return of deposit which should be donated to the local residents association. When mumsy and pop have to fork out a second time I’m sure the ground rules would be explained more forcefully.
Gasly shower of individual’s.
@Peter Bell: You’re not a Trinity graduate yourself?
@Peter Bell: It is usually the ghastly old fart’s who are gasly, especially those who use an apostrophe in a plural word.
The story had significantly less to do with UTIs than the headline may have led one to expect….
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