Dublin traders seek ABP review of capital transport plan

A group representing a number of city centre retailers, car park owners and hospitality businesses in Dublin city centre has asked for the Transport Plan for the capital to be referred to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) for a review.

The Dublin City Centre Traders Alliance said it believes the plan, which is due to come into effect in August, will lead to job losses, business closures and impact on retail sales.

In a letter sent to members of Dublin City Council, the alliance said the project should undergo a Part 8 application to ABP, requiring a full Environmental Impact Assessment.

It said this would allow public submissions and an independent, transparent assessment of the plan.

The alliance said it has written to the Chief Executive of Dublin City Council requesting the application and said that if it was granted, the group would not seek a judicial review.

It said it believes the plan will serve as a deterrent to shoppers and visitors who choose to use their cars or taxis and could have an impact on Henry Street and Grafton Street in particular.

It cites the National Transport Authority’s Dublin City Centre Shopper Survey 2022 which it said indicates that car users spend significantly more than those using public transport.

The alliance members – Brown Thomas, Arnotts, Jervis Shopping Centre, Retail Excellence Ireland, Restaurants Association of Ireland, Louis Copeland & Sons, the Irish Parking Association, Best Car Parks, Fitzwilliam Real Estate Capital – said they were deeply concerned about the plans and have commissioned independent reports to assess the impact on retail and traffic, which will be available in early July.

They also said they were concerned about significant “off-site impacts” of the traffic plan which have yet to be detailed.

Their letter concluded by asking councillors to instruct the Dublin City Council CEO to refer the plan to An Bord Pleanála.

If their request was granted, the introduction of the plan would have to be delayed due to the significant backlog of cases at the planning board.

It’s understood that while this review could be prioritised, any assessment by ABP is likely to take a number of months.