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30m-high student accommodation building is ‘too tall’

  • 11-09-2020 9:40pm
    #1
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭


    https://connachttribune.ie/30m-high-student-accommodation-building-in-galway-is-too-tall/

    The backers of a proposed 250-bed student accommodation complex on the Headford Road have been told that its 30-metre height is excessive and needs to be scaled back.

    And the management company of the adjacent Galway Retail Park have expressed “grave concerns” that it would be an overdevelopment of the site and would exacerbate an already-congested parking situation in the retail park.

    Last July, Cleverson Ltd – which is owned by Roscommon accountant Michael Feeley – applied for permission to develop the site of just over one acre which is currently a temporary carpark and vacant land opposite Lidl.


«13

Comments

  • #2
    Cheshire Cat
    Registered Users Posts: 2,276 ✭✭✭Cheshire Cat


    NellyBellyJelly wrote: »
    https://connachttribune.ie/30m-high-student-accommodation-building-in-galway-is-too-tall/

    The backers of a proposed 250-bed student accommodation complex on the Headford Road have been told that its 30-metre height is excessive and needs to be scaled back.

    And the management company of the adjacent Galway Retail Park have expressed “grave concerns” that it would be an overdevelopment of the site and would exacerbate an already-congested parking situation in the retail park.

    Last July, Cleverson Ltd – which is owned by Roscommon accountant Michael Feeley – applied for permission to develop the site of just over one acre which is currently a temporary carpark and vacant land opposite Lidl.

    The landlords of places like this obviously don't want competition.

    https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3456324287753704&id=247861075266724


  • #3
    galwayrush
    Registered Users Posts: 12,815 ✭✭✭✭galwayrush


    30M isn't exactly high. Close to the city centre and the college.Maybe the planners prefer low density sprawl miles out.


  • #4
    biko
    Registered Users Posts: 81,223 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Very similar to the 21-storey tower also opposed by Galway council.
    Me, I agree with them as I don't like glass and concrete boxes overtaking the Galway city charming buildings.


    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058108911


  • #5
    Laviski
    Registered Users Posts: 1,582 ✭✭✭Laviski


    biko wrote: »
    Very similar to the 21-storey tower also opposed by Galway council.
    Me, I agree with them as I don't like glass and concrete boxes overtaking over the Galway city charming buildings.


    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058108911

    So we just continue to build out and not up.
    Okay.
    Carry on as we were.


  • #6
    LostDuck
    Closed Accounts Posts: 145 ✭✭LostDuck


    As I mentioned over on the traffic thread;
    LostDuck wrote: »
    https://connachttribune.ie/30m-high-student-accommodation-building-in-galway-is-too-tall/

    This is very backward thinking. We need to build up residential density around the city centre. Students in these facilities will manage with no cars, get off the bus or train in Eyre Square and walk/bike to college.

    Instead we push them further out to the suburbs or nearby towns and they're commuting in.


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  • #7
    LostDuck
    Closed Accounts Posts: 145 ✭✭LostDuck


    biko wrote: »
    Me, I agree with them as I don't like glass and concrete boxes overtaking over the Galway city charming buildings.

    There's no charm along the Headford road, unless you count the side wall of the cinema.


  • #8
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    biko wrote: »
    Me, I agree with them as I don't like glass and concrete boxes overtaking over the Galway city charming buildings.


    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058108911

    And this is why we have sprawl.

    There is no problem protecting the core areas but as is done all over the world, some areas need to be designated for expansion upwards. Its not a big deal and can further increase the viability of the city center so long as it is done in a controlled and planned way.

    The problem with Galway city center is the council have not created a local area plan (LAP) for the area, instead letting private developers take stabs in the dark to see what will get approval and what won't.

    It's literally the most stupid and wasteful approach and does nothing whatsoever to protect Galways "charm"


  • #9
    what_traffic
    Registered Users Posts: 4,864 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    biko wrote: »
    Very similar to the 21-storey tower also opposed by Galway council.
    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058108911

    Its only 8 storys high though?
    5/6 storys for this location is probably what we will end up with.
    Often see Developers do this, send in a proposal that pushes the envelope, then get it scaled back to what they actually want.

    The main problem though is with Galway City Council as DaCor has outlined. They have not created a local area plan (LAP) for the whole Headford Road area and they are actually one of the big landowners there of both Greenfield and Brownfield Sites(Dyke Road Car Park).


  • #10
    xckjoo
    Registered Users Posts: 3,344 ✭✭✭xckjoo


    Is there any city guidelines for this kind of thing or do they just decide based on how they feel about each submission?


  • #11
    Kingp35
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 12,242 Mod ✭✭✭✭Kingp35


    biko wrote: »
    Very similar to the 21-storey tower also opposed by Galway council.
    Me, I agree with them as I don't like glass and concrete boxes overtaking the Galway city charming buildings.


    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058108911

    This is such backward thinking.

    Sprawl is a bad thing. We NEED to start building up.


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  • #12
    what_traffic
    Registered Users Posts: 4,864 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    xckjoo wrote: »
    Is there any city guidelines for this kind of thing or do they just decide based on how they feel about each submission?
    Have the City Development Plan - but the only thing really is Zoning; but after that have pretty much free reign if there is no Local Area Plan(with the City Dev Plan). Even Zoning does not guarantee anything in the long run - look at how Liosbaun has slowly morphed from Industrial into Retail.


  • #13
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    biko wrote: »
    Very similar to the 21-storey tower also opposed by Galway council.
    Me, I agree with them as I don't like glass and concrete boxes overtaking the Galway city charming buildings.


    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058108911


    Headford Road is about as charming as a dump.


  • #14
    -Vega-
    Registered Users Posts: 662 ✭✭✭-Vega-


    UP is absolutely the way to go. Also it is our responsibility to build UP and not out to protect as much of the original Galway landscape as we can. We keep pushing out taking over fields and woodlands and then we goso far out that we take over MORE fields and grasslands building a big highway shortcut to bring us back in.

    Its a bit greedy and very small minded to try and keep a city looking how you want it and not accomodating its natural growth. To keep it aesthetically like a small fishing town with nice thatch cottages might be lovely, but this is a student city and capital of culture. Its booming. You want jobs? You want your kids to have jobs? You want some choice in restaurants and retail? Well that's what it costs. It costs change. The building you remember will eventually have to go. Something more economical and viable will need to take its place.

    If everyone had this backward mentality then the entire landmass of the world would be covered over.


  • #15
    LostDuck
    Closed Accounts Posts: 145 ✭✭LostDuck


    -Vega- wrote: »
    The building you remember will eventually have to go. Something more economical and viable will need to take its place.

    Quay Street, Shop Street, Market Street etc should be protected from over development but the likes of the Headford Road should be built up. Infact it's better suited to dense residential units than sprawling retail parks which pull external traffic in.


  • #16
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,655 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    LostDuck wrote: »
    Quay Street, Shop Street, Market Street etc should be protected from over development but the likes of the Headford Road should be built up. Infact it's better suited to dense residential units than sprawling retail parks which pull external traffic in.

    Have you seen the amount that the carpark in IMC cinemas has sunk into the bog? I don't think it's an area I'd be wanting to invest in.


  • #17
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    Have you seen the amount that the carpark in IMC cinemas has sunk into the bog? I don't think it's an area I'd be wanting to invest in.

    Strange how the weight of a car causes sinking but the buildings don't


  • #18
    Cheshire Cat
    Registered Users Posts: 2,276 ✭✭✭Cheshire Cat


    DaCor wrote: »
    Strange how the weight of a car causes sinking but the buildings don't

    My guess is, that the buildings were properly underpinned whereas the carpark wasn’t.


  • #19
    zell12
    Registered Users Posts: 23,295 ✭✭✭✭zell12


    You can also see parts of the Dyke Road sinking, south of Bridge underpass.


  • #20
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,655 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    DaCor wrote: »
    Strange how the weight of a car causes sinking but the buildings don't

    Ya reckon it wouldn't have sunk if no cars were parked there?


    The point is - not many would be willing to buy houses there.


  • #21
    ben.schlomo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,962 ✭✭✭✭ben.schlomo


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    Ya reckon it wouldn't have sunk if no cars were parked there?


    The point is - not many would be willing to buy houses there.

    Didn't stop anyone buying in Dun or Gort na Coiribe, won't stop them on this site either.


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  • #22
    Laviski
    Registered Users Posts: 1,582 ✭✭✭Laviski


    Buildings have foundations - footpaths roads, car parks etc do not.

    Just take a look at the retail park, buildings have stayed but the ground around has sunk and alot in some places. Once a upon a time there wasnt steps to get into the Cinema as an example. Another would be to take note of the car park lights and the drop around it. That was once level.

    Same too is happening in galway s/c but not as bad.


  • #23
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    Laviski wrote: »
    Once a upon a time there wasnt steps to get into the Cinema as an example.

    There has always been steps


  • #24
    Laviski
    Registered Users Posts: 1,582 ✭✭✭Laviski


    DaCor wrote: »
    There has always been steps

    I suppose the steps at the side of the Cinema (Elverys) were always there too.

    Fyi this is going back to mid 90's.


  • #25
    xckjoo
    Registered Users Posts: 3,344 ✭✭✭xckjoo


    Laviski wrote: »
    I suppose the steps at the side of the Cinema (Elverys) were always there too.

    Fyi this is going back to mid 90's.
    I'm almost certain there was. Aren't all the buildings apart from the cinema at the same groundlevel? Not sure how they'd all sink uniformly and leave the cinema on higher ground


  • #26
    galwayrush
    Registered Users Posts: 12,815 ✭✭✭✭galwayrush


    xckjoo wrote: »
    I'm almost certain there was. Aren't all the buildings apart from the cinema at the same groundlevel? Not sure how they'd all sink uniformly and leave the cinema on higher ground

    The cinema building had to be underpinned.


  • #27
    xckjoo
    Registered Users Posts: 3,344 ✭✭✭xckjoo


    galwayrush wrote: »
    The cinema building had to be underpinned.
    That doesn't surprise me. Not doubting the place is prone to sinking a bit but I don't think steps were added to the cinema since they built it. More curious than anything


  • #28
    zell12
    Registered Users Posts: 23,295 ✭✭✭✭zell12


    New planning application gone in on 13/01/21 seeking seven story building


  • #29
    what_traffic
    Registered Users Posts: 4,864 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    zell12 wrote: »
    New planning application gone in on 13/01/21 seeking seven story building
    This is the link to it
    https://geo.galwaycity.ie/ePlan5/AppFileRefDetails/20184/0


  • #30
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    zell12 wrote: »
    New planning application gone in on 13/01/21 seeking seven story building

    Possibly will fail on parking facilities alone

    134 bike spaces (20 external, 114 internal) and 11 car spaces for 250 occupants


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  • #31
    what_traffic
    Registered Users Posts: 4,864 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    DaCor wrote: »
    Possibly will fail on parking facilities alone

    134 bike spaces (20 external, 114 internal) and 11 car spaces for 250 occupants
    Agree
    Very low for both alright, doubt they could say Dyke Road Car park beside it could mitigate against the low number of car parking spaces?


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