Fingal says it’ll avoid evictions with new Fortlawn redevelopment plan

Fingal County Council has re-launched its public consultation for the development of 21 new homes at Fortlawn in Blanchardstown.

The proposal, which would also see the demolition of four existing homes, had previously gone on display on 8 July.

But the council quickly received backlash, when a resident in one of the four homes intended for demolition launched a petition on 10 July saying that they hadn’t received any prior warning or consultation of this plan.

The petition gained more than 500 signatures. The council confirmed on 23 July via social media that the consultation was being deferred.

The consultation in question is a step in the process by which the council applies for planning permission for its own developments, known as Part 8.

After submissions have been made on the plans, the council draws up a report – and councillors vote on whether to make changes, or press ahead, or not.

Sinn Féin Councillor Angela Donnelly, at the council’s November monthly meeting on Monday, attempted to table an emergency motion about the residents in Fortlawn Park.

But the Mayor, Fine Gael Councillor Tom O’Leary, chairing the meeting, ruled her motion out of order. Still, he allowed her a chance to speak. 

The issue was that residents were being asked to accept this plan to demolish four homes, Donnelly said. But, communication with them has been appalling, she said. 

“The residents have been given an undertaking that they will not be evicted forcefully from their home,” Donnelly said.

Local councillors at the Blanchardstown area committee meeting on 4 September agreed to a pair of motions saying affected tenants should not be relocated to alternative social housing against their wishes.

Local councillors also agreed that a new plan was needed, Donnelly said, “that didn’t necessitate the demolition of four family homes”.

It was a huge mistake for the council to proceed over the heads of the community’s wishes, and the motions of councillors, said Solidarity Councillor Helen Redwood. “I think it’s highly undemocratic, and I think it’s also a serious breach of trust with the local community.”

Residents were only told of the original consultation the night before, said Labour Councillor John Walsh. “That was fundamentally wrong”

But when the original consultation was withdrawn, residents assumed it was being cancelled, said Walsh. “Of course, it was not the case.”

It’s been poorly handled by the executive, he said.

The council had put their hands up and admitted it wasn’t well handled, said Paul Carroll, Fingal’s director of Housing and Community Development. “We committed to reassessing the design and to engaging in a more full and open manner with the whole community, in particular the four affected residents.”

That’s happened over a few months, he said.

The solution that the council has come up with is a phased approach of implementing the overall Part 8 planning, he said. “So contrary to what might appear to be the case, no tenant will be asked to leave.”

The long-term phased approach will lead to the four demolished homes being replaced and 17 more added in the area, including those that are age friendly and universal design homes for people with disabilities, he said.

It will accommodate 47 more people, he said, “and will significantly address the ongoing, serious anti-social behaviour that is taking place in the area.”

The council’s chief executive, AnnMarie Farrelly, said the consultation process would require a democratic decision. In other words, a vote by councillors. 

“Ultimately, if this decision is not approved, that planning permission will not be granted and that will be the end of the 21 proposed homes,” she said.

Donnelly said that councillors hadn't asked officials to go out to public consultation again on the same plan, and restart the Part 8 planning process. 

“If you listened to the residents and to the councillors, we could come up with a plan that wouldn’t destroy community relations and would pass,” she said.

The consultation for the Part 8 planning process at Fortlawn will be open until 5 January.