Trinity Hall Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
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Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment of Cunningham House Redevelopment, Trinity Hall, Dartry Road, Dublin 6. For Trinity College Dublin March 2020 Mitchell + Associates Landscape Architects and Urban Designers 5 Woodpark, The Rise, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 Tel: +353 (0)1 4545066 Email: [email protected] Table of Contents 1 Landscape and Visual ......................................................................................................... 5-3 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 5-3 1.2 Proposed Development ............................................................................................... 5-4 1.3 Methodology .............................................................................................................. 5-7 1.3.1 Selection of Views .................................................................................................. 5-8 1.3.2 Photomontage Methodology .................................................................................. 5-9 1.3.3 Methodology for Rating Impacts ............................................................................. 5-9 1.4 Baseline Scenario (Description of Receiving Environment) ......................................... 5-10 1.4.1 Introduction – Site Location, Built Form and Planning Context ............................... 5-10 1.4.2 Topography, morphology and vegetation .............................................................. 5-14 1.5 The ‘Do Nothing’ Approach ....................................................................................... 5-15 1.6 Impact Assessment ................................................................................................... 5-15 1.6.1 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Development ................................................... 5-15 1.6.2 Construction Phase ............................................................................................... 5-15 1.7 Operational Phase .................................................................................................... 5-15 1.7.1 Predicted Landscape Character Impact of the Proposed Development ................... 5-16 1.7.2 Construction Phase ............................................................................................... 5-16 1.7.3 Operational Phase ................................................................................................ 5-16 1.7.4 Predicted Visual Impact of the Proposed Development .......................................... 5-18 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 5-18 1.8 Mitigation (remedial/reductive measures) ................................................................ 5-33 1.8.1 Construction Phase ............................................................................................... 5-33 1.8.2 Operational Phase ................................................................................................ 5-33 1.9 Monitoring ............................................................................................................... 5-34 1.10 Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................... 5-34 1.10.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 5-34 1.10.2 Cumulative effects related to the proposed development .................................. 5-34 1.11 Worst case scenario .................................................................................................. 5-34 1.12 Summary of effects ................................................................................................... 5-34 1.13 References ................................................................................................................ 5-35 Table of Figures FIGURE 1.1 SITE LOCATION (IN RED) IMAGE COURTESY OF RAU FIGURE 1.2 DETAILED SITE LOCATION. IMAGE COURTESY OF RAU FIGURE 1.3 LANDSCAPE MASTERPLAN (REFER TO LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS AND REPORTS FOR FULL SCHEME). FIGURE 1.4 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT SCHEME –AERIAL VIEW COURTESY OF RAU FIGURE 1.5 SELECTED VIEWPOINTS (VIEWS 1 - 21 INCL.) –SEE 3D DESIGN’S BOOK OF PHOTOMONTAGES FOR FULL A3 SCALE. EXTRACT 3D DESIGN, MAP DATA ©2019 GOOGLE FIG 1. 6 VIEW FROM PALMERSTON PARK LOOKING TOWARDS THE STUDENT RESIDENCES. FIGURE 1.7 A GLIMPSE OF ONE OF THE PROPERTIES (IN THIS CASE ONE OF THE PROTECTED STRUCTURES OFF TEMPLE ROAD) SET IN LARGE FRONT GARDENS BEHIND TREES AND SHRUBS/HEDGES. FIGURE 1.8 A VIEW FROM WITHIN THE CAMPUS AT THE ATTENUATION POND SHOWING LOOKING WESTWARDS TOWARDS SUNBURY GARDENS AND SUNBURY COURT APARTMENTS FIGURE 1.9 A VIEW FROM WITHIN THE CAMPUS AT GREENANNE SHOWING THE CENTRAL PAVED AREA AND THE 7 STOREY STUDENT RESIDENCES IN RED BRICK AND GREY METAL CLADDING BEHIND FIGURE 1.10 SITE LOCATION (APPROX AREA CIRCLED IN BLUE) SHOWING LOCAL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. DCC DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2016-2022 FIGURE 1.11 IMPRESSION OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IN RELATION TO THE ARBORETUM (COURTESY RAU) 5 Landscape and Visual 5.1 Introduction Mitchell + Associates was engaged by the applicant in March 2019 to prepare a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment for the development of student residential units and associated facilities and amenities on a site located at Trinity Hall, Dartry Dublin 6. This chapter assesses the impact of the proposed development on the landscape character and visual amenity of the site and on the contiguous urban landscape and its environs. It describes the landscape character of the subject site and its hinterland, together with the visibility of the site from significant viewpoints in the locality. It includes an outline of the methodology utilised to assess the impacts, descriptions of the receiving environment (baseline) and of the potential impacts of the development. Mitigation measures introduced to ameliorate or offset impacts are outlined and the resultant predicted (residual) impacts are assessed. FIGURE 1.1 SITE LOCATION (IN RED ) IMAGE COURTESY OF RAU The assessment has been carried out by Feargus McGarvey BA(Hons) Dip LA Greenwich University, Associate Director with Mitchell + Associates, Landscape Architects. Feargus is a full member and former president of the Irish Landscape Institute, the professional body for landscape architects in Ireland. He has 29 years’ experience in working as a Landscape Architecture. He has written and collaborated on many LVIA and VIA in both an urban and rural context, including Dundrum Town Centre LVIA, Donaghcumper Cellbridge Town Centre LVIA, Wonderful Barn Leixlip LVIA, Dun Laoghaire Harbour Cruise Berth Marina LVIA, Hermitage Clinic, Liffey Valley VIA, Office Development Dawson Street/ Nassau Street Dublin LVIA, Nursing home and residences Kilmagig Lower LVIA, Merrion Road Office Development VIA, Marry’s Pig Farm Boyne Valley LVIA, Rathgar (Rathdown Motors) Residential Development VIA, and Chivers Coolock Residential Development in Coolock. FIGURE 1.2 DETAILED SITE LOCATION. IMAGE COURTESY OF RAU This chapter should be read with reference to the photomontages produced by 3D Design, which are included with the planning application. It should also be read in conjunction with the Architectural Design Statement prepared by Plus Architects which also accompanies the planning application. 5.2 Proposed Development The application site includes Cunningham House and existing Sports Hall (abutting Oldham House, a Protected Structure) and is generally bound to the west and north by the existing Trinity Hall Campus, to the east by the boundary with the Temple Square development and to the south by Temple Road. The site excludes Greenane House (a Protected Structure) but includes the area immediately adjoining the House. The application site also includes a small parcel of land located adjacent to the existing vehicular access from Dartry Road and the existing electrical substation located to the north-east of Purser House (a Protected Structure) all within the main Trinity Hall campus. The development will consist of an extension to existing purpose-built student accommodation at Trinity Hall with an overall gross floor area (GFA) of approximately 10,982sqm (over a part lower ground floor level plant area of 55sqm GFA) providing a total of 358 no. purpose-built student bed spaces together with complementary and ancillary uses. The proposed development consists of: Demolition of Cunningham House, the Sports Hall (including the removal of existing part basement of 104sqm), the eastern section of the existing rear boundary wall and associated single storey ancillary sheds within the curtilage of Greenane House (a Protected Structure) (c.2,864sqm total GFA to be demolished). Provision of 4 no. connected blocks arranged in a quadrangle form: Block A ranges in height from four to eight storeys; Block B is four storeys in height; Block C is three storeys in height while the Forum Block is single storey in height (partially double height space rising to a maximum height of 9.6m above adjoining ground level). 358 no. purpose-built student bed spaces comprising of 11 no. 5-bedroom units; 4 no. 6- bedroom unit; 1 no. 7-bedroom unit and 34 no. 8-bedroom units together with ancillary student amenity spaces. 4 no. staff apartments (3 no. 2-bedroom apartments and 1 no. 3-bedroom apartment) with winter-gardens/balconies on south elevation of Block