An Bord Pleanála Rejects Planning Retention for Dublin Airport Car Park
An Bord Pleanála has denied a request for planning retention and continued use of a 248-space car park intended for Dublin Airport passengers. Carra Shore Hotel (Dublin) Ltd, the operator of the Holiday Inn hotel, sought to maintain the car park’s operation for an additional five years to accommodate both short-term and long-term parking needs of airport passengers. The car park, situated on the hotel grounds, is accessible via a roundabout that also serves the Clayton Hotel and a Circle K Service Station near Dublin Airport.
The decision by An Bord Pleanála follows an appeal by Carra Shore Hotel (Dublin) Ltd, which aimed to overturn a previous refusal by Fingal County Council. The council had denied permission for the car park’s operation at the Holiday Inn, located on Stockhole Lane, Clonshaugh, Swords, Co Dublin. The appeals board ultimately upheld the council’s decision, determining that the car park’s use as a long-term private facility was classified as “carpark non-ancillary,” a category not permitted under the site’s zoning regulations.
Fingal County Council had previously ruled that operating a long-term car park would significantly contravene the ‘HT’ (High Technology) Zoning Objective outlined in the Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029. This zoning aims to “Provide for office, research and development, and high technology/high technology manufacturing type employment in a high-quality built and landscaped environment.”
Emma Nevin, the appeals board inspector, concluded that the car park’s current use did not justify the provision of non-ancillary parking at the hotel for commercial purposes associated with Dublin Airport. Ms Nevin expressed doubts that the car park would enhance the airport’s operational efficiency, given its location and the existing hotel use of the site. She further noted that the development appeared piecemeal and ad-hoc within the broader context of parking provision strategies for the Dublin Airport campus.
In their appeal against the council’s decision, John Spain Associates argued that the proposal would help distribute the parking load experienced by the Dublin Airport Authority (daa) and prevent undue pressure on a single parking facility. The appeal also highlighted that the car park would introduce healthy competition and choice for airport users.
John Spain Associates contended that the significant demand for airport parking, coupled with increasing passenger numbers and delays in implementing planned public transport improvements like the Metrolink and Swords to City Centre Bus Connects, created a short-term need for additional airport parking in suitable locations such as the subject site. The appeal urged the board to grant planning permission, emphasizing that the parking spaces already exist, are not currently required for the hotel’s original purpose, and that there is a substantial demand for airport parking amid ongoing delays in enhancing public transport services to the airport.
Despite these arguments, An Bord Pleanála’s decision underscores the importance of adhering to zoning objectives and development plans, particularly in areas designated for high technology and research-focused activities. The case highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing infrastructure needs with zoning regulations and development goals in rapidly growing urban areas like Dublin.
