Shoppers at Blanchardstown Centre could soon face a new parking regime after plans for paid parking barriers at the west Dublin shopping centre were given the go-ahead.
An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) has approved the centre’s proposed Mobility Enhancement Project, paving the way for a commercial parking management system despite objections from local representatives and residents.
The decision follows a planning battle that began when Fingal County Council approved the proposals last November.
That ruling was subsequently appealed in three separate cases, leaving the scheme’s future in the hands of the commission.
In its decision, ACP concluded that the plans for the Blanchardstown Centre would not make existing traffic problems worse or cause unacceptable harm to nearby homes and neighbourhoods.
It also found that introducing controlled parking would not damage the shopping centre’s ability to attract customers or support local businesses.
The commission said the proposal offered a ‘balanced approach’ to parking, using charges and management measures to help control demand and encourage more sustainable travel, while still catering for shoppers, workers and the wider community.
It further ruled that the development would not have a serious or disproportionate impact on the area’s surroundings or on the amenities enjoyed by neighbouring residents.
The approval marks a significant step for the scheme, which has proved contentious among people concerned about the impact of paid parking at one of west Dublin’s major shopping destinations.
While the commission has now cleared the planning hurdle, the decision is likely to keep the debate over parking costs, access and travel choices alive among shoppers and the local community.
