JD Wetherspoon Gets Approval for Sound Screen at Camden St Venue

An Coimisiún Pleanála has granted planning permission to UK pub giant, JD Wetherspoon, for contentious plans for a 13ft high acoustic glass screen that now allows it to reopen a courtyard at its Keaven's Port hotel on Dublin's Camden Street.

The planning green light overturns a decision by Dublin City Council earlier this year to refuse planning permission after local residents objected, claiming that the application would turn a 'super-pub’ into a ‘mega-pub’ by reopening the courtyard.

JD Wetherspoon closed its beer garden at the venue in April 2022 in response to locals’ noise complaints over its operation and the beer garden has remained closed.

In response to the JD Wetherspoon planning appeal, the planning commission has granted planning permission after concluding that the works are \"modest in scale and due to the sensitive design, do not detract from the setting of the protected structures\".

The order stated that the Commission was satisfied that the proposed works in combination with mitigation measures, would address the issue of noise and its impact on the amenity of the adjoining property.

The commission stated that it took into account the totality of information including both the applicant’s and observers' noise expert reports submitted.

In conditions attached to the permission, the planning commission states that the capacity of the courtyard will be limited to 135 persons and it will operate from 10am to 11pm \"to protect residential amenity\".

The commission has also attached a condition that there will be no music within this application area directed into the external area.

The planning commission has also ordered that there will be no outbreak of amplified music from any activities at nearby noise sensitive locations.

JD Wetherspoon will also be required to carry out further acoustic monitoring post commencement of the use of the beer garden to ensure that the patron noise levels projected within the acoustic report are being complied with.

The commission stated that the applicant had demonstrated that the physical interventions, the monitoring of noise and the management of the facility to ensure compliance with the operational mitigation measures would protect the residential amenity of properties in the vicinity.

The 13ft high acoustic glass screen is the firm’s second bid to address the noise complaints - in 2023, JD Wetherspoon abandoned plans to erect a 43ft high sound barrier, dubbed \"taller than the Berlin Wall\" by one objector, after strong local opposition.

In an objection lodged with the Council, on behalf of the West of Camden Residents Association, James Wickham stated that the opening of the court-yard would mean that the super-pub would become a mega-pub \"which is totally unsuitable to Camden Street’s scale and character\".

JD Wetherspoon spokesman, Eddie Gershon said on Wednesday: \"As you would expect, we are very pleased that An Bord Pleanala has granted the appeal.

He said: \"We do not yet have a date for the works to the garden to commence, but we hope to get started as soon as possible.

Mr Gershon said: \"We will endeavour to keep our neighbours and the relevant authorities fully briefed when we have more information\".

Reporting by Gordon Deegan