Lusk Dump Faces Planning Challenge

The Irish planning appeals board is to hear criticism of Fingal County Council’s archaeological assessment of a proposed 500,000-tonne capacity "super-dump" near Lusk, in north Dublin.

An Bord Pleanála will hold the public hearing to consider elements of a new report by Iron Age archaeology expert Professor John Waddell, of NUI Galway.

The professor was commissioned to conduct the investigation by the planning board, on the advice of Environment Minister John Gormely.

The final report has highlighted a number of deficiencies in the original archaeological assessment undertaken by Fingal Council.

The council’s proposals for the landfill were described by the professor as poorly structured and "remarkably brief", as well as being perfunctory in places.

It has been suggested the new report could cast a shadow over the council’s chances of gaining planning permission for the site.


Despite this, the Environmental Protection Agency has already proposed granting the council a waste licence to operate the dump facility.

However, objections at an oral hearing last March mean it is unlikely EPA will give a final decision on the licence until the planning appeal has ended.

The Lusk site is expected to service 16% of greater Dubin’s waste.

The planning body originally held a hearing into plans for the dump in October 2006.

A decision was expected last October, however, the board deferred its ruling after discussions with the Environment Department regarding archaeological concerns raised during debates.

In December 2007, the department recommended further archaeological investigations of the site should take place.

Earlier this year, Minister Gormley called on the advice of an Irish Iron Age expert.

John Waddell was appointed by the board to conduct the assessment.

The board is now expected to reopen its hearing next month.

Fingal Council has said it is hoping for a speedy conclusion of the public meeting.

"Assuming development consent is then granted by An Bord Pleanála and a full waste licence is issued by the EPA to build and operate a new landfill at Tooman/Nevitt, Fingal County Council proposes to proceed with the project at the earliest opportunity," said a council spokesperson.

The Nevitt Lusk Action Group, which is opposed to the dump, said evidence has suggested their local area is the wrong site for such a facility.

Group spokesperson Gemma Larkin said: "From the beginning we have stated that this site is wrong for this kind of development and the archaeological survey demanded by An Bord Pleanála found such important evidence that the hearing must now be reopened."

(PR/NS)