Local group object to Pod planning permission

Cian H

Local group challenges plan to extend the POD

A plan to extend the POD nightclub on Harcourt Street has been challenged by the Village Quarter Group. Nightclub owner John Reynolds was granted planning permission by Dublin City Council to extend the capacity of the POD. Popular with twentysomething clubbers, its capacity is to be increased by 500 to over 1,000 patrons by extending into its 144 sq m warehouse area. Part of the planning permission was for a change of use of the warehouse/retail area to nightclub and bar.

Frank Dempsey, of the Village Quarter Group - a trade and community group representing the Harcourt Street, Camden Street and Wexford Street area has appealed the planning permission.

He maintains the sheer scale of an extended POD would create an imbalance "by soaking up an extremely large patronage of a single variety (ie clubbing type)".

He said the POD and adjoining nightclubs and bars, the Chocolate Bar and Red Box are all owned by Mr Reynolds and their combined size makes it "one of the largest night club/licenced venues established in Dublin."

"The effect of the scheme, should permission be granted would be to remove existing retail/warehousing floorspace here, thus reducing the diversity in land use at this location, contrary to the objectives of the development plan."

He pointed to another planning application before Dublin City Council relating to the extension of the Red Box venue by 622 sq m, increasing its capacity to 2,000.

"This application indicates a clear strategy of ongoing growth and expansion by the single owner of the POD/Red Box/Chocolate Bar complex."

Mr Dempsey said there are already a large number of other nightclubs and pubs in the immediate area, including the Odeon, various hotel bars and nightclubs along Harcourt Street and Club Mono on nearby Wexford Street.

"The proposed development is contrary to objective 14.38.0 of Dublin City Council to prevent an excessive concentration of licensed premises such as nightclubs in an area and to ensure that the intensity of the proposed use is in keeping with both the scale of the building and the pattern of development in the area."


Pikeys

Hugs-E

Booooooooooooooooooo !

Mr Dempsey said there are already a large number of other nightclubs and pubs in the immediate area, including the Odeon, various hotel bars and nightclubs along Harcourt Street and Club Mono on nearby Wexford Street.

Like Copper Face Jacks & Gigi's.

ballooba

Mono is gone now so bring it on!!!

Super Pod here we come.