Updated 15.30pm
THE URBAN BEACH that was given the go ahead by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council last year has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Last November, the majority of councillors approved the joint venture plan with the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, that would see an urban beach, with a heated floating sea-water swimming pool, situated along the pier of the Dublin suburb.
The council confirmed to TheJournal.ie that the cost of the project is estimated to be in the region of €3 million. The council has committed to funding half the cost of the project up to a total cost of €1.5 million.
However, this funding is subject to the project receiving the required planning approval.
Urban beach
The project, which was inspired by the Badeschiff facility in Berlin, would also include toilets, changing rooms, a café, a wind-protected cafe seating and lounge area, where visitors could relax on deck chairs and enjoy views of the iconic harbour.
Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company said that the facility is designed with a sustainable and environmentally friendly ethos with materials including the use of a recycled river barge, long life timber cladding, recycled rubber sand effect flooring and recycled timber decking.
Heated swimming pool
It is envisaged the pool will use treated sea water which will be heated by extracting heat from the seabed.
The Harbour Company estimates that urban beach has the potential to attract 140,000 visitors per annum and will generate over €1 million per annum for the local economy.
It was planned to open for the summer season in 2016 at an estimated cost of €2.5 million.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Fine Gael local Councillor Patricia Stewart said the project was a positive thing for Dún Laoghaire, adding that as a council they are trying to promote leisure and tourism in the area.
“We don’t have an outdoor swimming pool in the area, we lost that with the Blackrock Baths. This would bring a lot of people to the area,” she said.
The application is currently under appeal, with a number of clarifications on the project being raised, such as serious concerns regarding the structures remaining in situ for twelve months, when the site will only be used for the spring and summer months and the impact of the disused structures and disused awnings on the visual amenity of the area during the remainder of the year.
A decision on the urban beach is due to be decided on 13 May 2015.
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