How is the school communicating its vision and plans for its sportsgrounds in Kenilworth?
By repeating the facts & the reasoning behind the project, as set out here:
The proposals are for:
- One standard-sized all-weather 100 x 70 all-weather pitch and one 100 x 70 grass pitch, which together will take up marginally less of the Square than the present three smaller pitches.
- To remove 8 trees, none of which are high quality or heritage, and to plant 74 new trees, all of which will be. For every one tree removed, we are replacing with an additional 9.25 new trees.
- Removal of the old pavilion on the south side of the square and building a new pavilion on the east side of the square. The new pavilion will be single-storey, A- Rated energy efficient with a grass roof, solar panels, heat pump, and dressing rooms to accommodate both boys and girls.
- The all-weather pitch to have six lights on long thin poles and be surrounded by a 1.2m-high fence. The lights will not have any spillage onto the path or road and will enable the facility to be used by local community sport clubs in the winter evenings.
The purpose is to create:
A facility that will lead to more youngsters playing more sports more of the time, with all the proven benefits of that.
A space presently used only by one school, will be available to community clubs for kids in many schools on the same not-for-profit basis as the front pitch in St Mary’s in Rathmines. This sharing is another response of the St Mary’s school community to the chronic shortage of sports pitches in the locality.
Greatly improved environmental management of Kenilworth Square, in the first instance by building carbon-neutral changing rooms and planting the sort of trees that will flourish for generations and add to the biodiversity of the locality.
What is planning permission needed for, and what is it not needed for?
For all building works, you establish what you need planning permission for, and what does not require it. If in doubt, and if behaving responsibly, you apply to the council for clarification. For example, you usually don’t need planning permission to build a conservatory or a garden shed, but you do for an extension more than 40 sq to your house.
We applied to Dublin City Council, by what is called a Section 5 application, to advise whether we needed planning permission to lay out an all-weather surface on the existing grass pitches and to combine two pitches into one. Dublin City Council confirmed on 22 August that we do not require planning permission for these works. We expected that this would be so, as the rules are clear and have been applied in similar cases. We will apply for planning permission for the lights and for the changing rooms, and we will proceed with the tree planting and other sensible measures to improve the grounds in line with present standards of environmental excellence.
Has the school engaged with residents about the plans?
Back in May, we delivered information packs to residents which included a cover letter co-signed by the principals, a map of the square and details of the proposed changes, a phone number and email address of the planning consultant with an invitation to make contact, and a link to the website which contains the plans and which has been updated as needed. We also put the website, www.visionkenilworthsquare.ie, into circulation through sending it to all those whom we knew had an interest, with a request to pass it on to others. All contacts have been responded to. There are continuing efforts to speak directly to a group of people opposed to the proposals. As issues come up, the responses on the website are updated.
What is the scale of this development, as outlined in the plans published by the school?
Modest, and in line with the normal development of sports’ grounds to allow for all-weather usage with lights, including Mount Pleasant Square, Ranelagh and Grosvenor Square, Rathmines. We would like to reiterate a few keys points:
- It remains a sports ground – no building for profit or sale.
- Playing space will be reduced from three pitches to two, from 14,195m2 to 14,000 m2.
- There will be no stands, no terraces.
- The old pavilion on the north side of the square will be removed and new pavilion will be rebuilt on the east side of the sports grounds. This will be single storey. Like everything else in this proposal, it is underpinned by the principles of sustainable development, with a living grass roof and powered by solar panels and a heat pump.
- With the old pavilion removed the area will become part of the second pitch, which will be grass.
- Car parking will be limited to what is needed for disabled, emergency and staff access.
Is it a commercial proposition?
No. This is a non-profit making project. St Mary’s will pay to improve the facilities in Kenilworth. It will be funded by donors, not investors. When other sports clubs use the grounds, they will contribute to cover the extra costs of opening and maintenance. St Mary’s is a school, not a business. And in addition, there will be no cost to the taxpayer.
One donor put it like this. ‘If there is anyone who wants to invest on the basis that they will never recover their capital, and never turn a profit on the running of the facility, then they are welcome to do so!’
What is the plan for the trees?
We are planting 74 new trees in Kenilworth. All will be native trees or pollinators. We are proposing to remove 8 trees, none of which are high quality or heritage. For every one tree removed we are replacing with an additional 9.25 trees. In total there are 188 trees in the Square. None appear to date from the 19th century, unfortunately. On the contrary, most were planted in the 1950’s from whatever saplings could be sourced without regard to whether the trees were native or pollinators.
We commissioned an arborist to examine every tree in Kenilworth Square and report on what each one is, and how long it will last. A link to the report is here. The trees consist mainly of Monterey Cypress, Leyland Cypress, Pine, Sycamore, Beech, Lime, Poplar, Birch, Leyland Cypress, Lawson Cypress and Holly. 98 of the 188 trees are categorised as ‘low quality’. Another 77 are described as ‘moderate quality’. An additional ten are now at end- of-life. Only 3 of the trees in Kenilworth are Category A, ‘trees of high quality’. When finished, Kenilworth Square will have many more trees of high quality.
Will the pitch lights light the whole area? Will they help illuminate the darkness on the footpaths around Kenilworth Square on winter nights?
The lights question has been phrased in both of these ways. Modern pitch lighting is very targeted on the playing surface – on the St Mary’s front pitch in Rathmines, we had to install additional lights on the footpaths around the pitch, because even when the pitch lights are on, the paths were dark.
Does the new pavilion have a bar in it?
No. The new pavilion is designed to be used by boys and girls playing sport. It will have
changing rooms, showers, and storage for footballs etc.
What is the advantage to the students in the school of this development?
To play games on two full-sized pitches, rather than three smaller ones, and to have an-all weather pitch to protect against winter cancellations and wear-and-tear. And to have better changing rooms.
What is the advantage to the community of this development?
Local sports clubs – boys and girls, soccer, GAA, rugby, cricket – get access to a new pitch for training and games. Everyone involved in children’s sport in Dublin is only too aware of the chronic shortage of pitches and the regular cancellation of training and matches because of bad weather. We have received a very positive response from many in the locality and children’s sports clubs to the news that Kenilworth will get an all-weather facility.
What we are asking of the people who live around or near Kenilworth Square
To give the proposals a fair hearing.
To engage with us through emailing or calling the planning consultants we have appointed, so that we receive further suggestions on how to improve the plans and are given the opportunity to answer concerns.
What is the school’s track record?
The pitch in front of the school in Rathmines was developed in 2020. It had been used exclusively by St. Mary’s College Junior School until developed but is now used by Ranelagh Gaels GAA, Beechwood Football Club, St. Mary’s RFC, Templeogue Synge Street GAA, Belmont Football Club, Portobello GAA, Harold’s Cross Football Club and Terenure Rangers FC. The trees along the Rathmines Road were retained and additional trees planted along the Military Road. It is a showpiece of what can and should be done with sports pitches.
What happens next
We are taking on board what we are hearing back and will continue to update the website with changes and updates to the project.
