House builder Cairn Homes is to lodge new plans for 252 residential “build to sell” units for one of the few available sites in Blackrock in south Dublin that is suitable for a higher density apartment scheme.
In plans to be lodged with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Cairn Homes is seeking permission for 236 apartments and 16 houses at Chesterfield, Cross Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
The 236 apartments are to be located in two blocks ranging in height from five to eight storeys while the 16 homes will be five bedroom terrace houses.
Cairn has been trying to develop the site for the past seven years and last year An Coimisiún Pleanála refused planning permission for 355 build to rent apartments as it would lead to an over-proliferation of build to rent apartments for the area.
ACP refused planning permission after co-founder of the Blackrock, Hermitage and Galway Clinics, James M Sheehan, claimed that the plan “is grossly excessive”. This was one of over 30 objections were lodged against the scheme.
Previously, Cairn secured planning permission for an apartment scheme on the site but the planning permission was quashed by the High Court in July 2019 following residents’ opposition.
Addressing ACP’s grounds for refusal on the proliferation of built to rent apartments for the area, planning consultants for the new scheme, McCutcheon Halley Chartered Planning Consultants (MHP), state that new scheme in contrast “offers 252 built to sell (BTS) units, which align with the identified housing needs in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and contributes to addressing Ireland’s housing demand”.
MHP state that the scheme “will facilitate increased housing supply and choice along Cross Avenue and its environs, which is also located 1km southwest of Blackrock Village”.
MHP further state that “the design rationale is to create and deliver a high quality sustainable residential development within this strategic infill site which respects its suburban setting and maximises the site’s natural attributes while making maximum efficiency of existing infrastructure”.
The developers are proposing a density of 100 units per hectare and MHP state that “the proposed density and mix is considered suitable for the site ensuring a sufficient quantum of units is provided whilst also protecting the amenity of existing adjoining residential properties”.
As part of its social housing obligations, Cairn Homes is proposing to sell 25 units to the Council.
A letter from the Council states that “while the unit costs exceed the Council’s approved acquisition cost threshold, it is acknowledged that the stated costs are estimated, as actual costs cannot be quantified at this preliminary stage”.
The Council letter states that “the Council may seek a revision of the Part V proposal following evaluation of costs and land values”.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
