Conor McGregor lands first blow in battle against knotweed after planning bosses accept scheme to KO pesky weed
CONOR McGregor has landed the first blow in his battle against knotweed — after planning bosses accepted his scheme to KO the dreaded weed.
Last month, we revealed how Dublin City Council had hammered the UFC star with additional planning requirements for his luxury property development after the dreaded invasive species was found growing on his land.
Mac plans to construct hundreds of build-to-rent apartments after splashing out €19million on the plot along Davitt Road in Drimnagh.
But the 34-year-old’s project was slowed as developers wrestled with preparing a management plan for the pesky plant, which can grow through tarmac but is not harmful to humans.
It is one of the most damaging invasive species, is extremely difficult to control and can undermine the structural integrity of roads and buildings.
In August, officials in DCC wrote to the developers, Corcom, explaining that before any work takes place they would have to agree “a comprehensive Invasive Species Management Plan” with the planning authority.
And the plans would have to “include detailed measures for the elimination of Japanese knotweed.”
Corcom subsequently lodged a detailed 18-page document on how they will destroy the vicious vine.
In correspondence seen by The Irish Sun, the Planning Authority has since informed the developer the details submitted are “satisfactory”, “in compliance” and “acceptable”.
Council bosses also accepted McGregor’s waste management plan for the site.
Most read in Sport
It is an offence to allow or cause to disperse Japanese knotweed.
And An Bord Pleanala can reject a development application on the grounds it’s not properly dealt with.
McGregor’s developers told the council how they will undertake a “controlled excavation” of the material within the area, followed by removal to “a licensed landfill”.
It said all excavated material will be disposed of at a specialist facility.
The wagons used to cart off the plant will be cleaned from “a bio security perspective” before leaving the landfill to ensure the wicked weed doesn’t spread.
And after it is removed, developers will keep tabs on the site for four years to ensure it doesn’t return.
'SHOWPLACE'
‘The Notorious’ bought the former Heidelberg-Miller building and SCR Garage sites along the Grand Canal for about €15million.
Planning permission for 188 build-to-rent flats and two commercial units had already been secured.
The fighter also purchased an adjacent site that formerly housed a paint shop for several million euro — where he plans building a further 100-plus apartments.
He is hoping to develop part of this second site as social and affordable housing — but roughly 250 abodes will be rental only.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Local Sinn Fein Councillor Maire Devine has blasted the brawler’s venture, saying build-to-rent pads are solely “profit-driven” and won’t help solve the housing crisis.
But Dubliner McGregor hit back at the criticism and said the property development would be “a showplace when it is finished”.
