A planning application has been made by Maxol on Sandyford Road to expand the retail/food space, add EV charging points, add bicycle parking and change some of the layout. The application will be decided by the planners in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the closing date for submissions is 14th March 2024.
The owners made a previous application in November 2021 that was refused by the council in January 2022. No submissions had been made by members of the public.
The reasons the council gave for refusing permission before were:
1. would negatively affect the viability of Balally Shopping Centre and Sandyford Village
2. would increase car traffic
3. would negatively affect nearby residents due to increase in car journeys to the station
4. would jeopardise future development on the lands zoned residential around it.
The owners are saying that the new application is scaled down from that previous one.
The previous application was decided under the old County Development Plan (CDP) 2016-2022 but this one will be decided under the new 2022-2028 CDP.
Back in 2021, when councillors were deciding on the new CDP I added two conditions that service stations looking for permission had to add:
1. Sufficient EV charging
2. Bike maintenance, repair, pump and washing facilties.
Summary of Maxol Sandyford Road planning application
Full details of the proposals are available on the Council’s planning website here. Some key info I’ve pulled out of it:
- Adding around 100 sq m of retail space including seating and deli counters.
- Changing front entrance
- Installing 2 EV charging points.
- Installing 10 bike parking space and 2 motorbike spaces.
- Adding/changing around some outbuildings like electric substations, water pumps and solid fuel store.
- Seeking retention permission for solar panels already on the roof.
If you have anything you would like me to raise in an observation on this application, please let me know.
Here are what some of the plans look like:
Applicant’s description of planning application
The proposals as written on the planning website are:
- Planning and retention permission. Demolition of the existing unauthorised porch (12sqm) and carwash plant/solid fuel store (36sqm).
- Construction of 112 single storey extensions to the rear, side and front of the existing single storey service station building resulting in a building of 482sqm GFA (the extended building will accomodate an extended self-service food area/ deli counter (cafe/restaurant) for the sale of hot and cold food for consumption both on and off the premises (53sqm), extended seating area (50sqm), circulation, back of house areas, stores, welfare facilities, a new lobby to the rear, a new entrance porch to the front (12sqm), roof plant, a replacement carwash plant/solid fuel store (35sqm) and associated signage (3.8sqm).
- The proposed development will also consist of the construction of: an EV Charging Hub (consisting of 2no. EV charging car parking spaces, canopy, substation, ancillary plant, signage (2×2.5sqm) and a double sided internally illuminated totem sign (19sqm total));
- The site layout will be reconfigured to provide a relocated bin compound and the reduction of car parking spaces to 17no. (excluding the proposed 2no. EV Charging Spaces and existing 2no. water/air service spaces).
- Development for which retention permission is sought consists of existing solar panels at roof level.
