Fingal Co Council has refused planning permission to contentious plans by builders Glenveagh Properties to construct a €60m 135 unit apartment scheme for a site adjoining Howth Demesne, Deer Park at Howth in North Co Dublin.
In the Large Scale Residential Development (LRD), Glenveagh subsidiary, GLL PRS Holdco Limited was seeking to build the apartments in four apartment blocks ranging from three to five storeys in height.
The scheme is made up of 72 two-bedroom units and 63 one bedroom units for the 3.8 acre site.
A planning report lodged with the application stated that the proposed development "promotes the delivery of sustainable residential development on a greenfield site which will facilitate increased housing supply and choice along Howth Road and its environs".
However, the scheme faced strong local opposition and in a hard hitting objection, Maria Doyle of Balkill Park, Howth contended that if the scheme proceeds, "I feel that the character and uniqueness of Howth will be further diluted".
"It is like the powers that be are not listening or more importantly not caring. It is depressing to enter into Howth now and see huge ugly brutalist apartment blocks that are more suited to a dystopian cityscape than a coastal town like Howth," Ms Doyle said.
Now, in a comprehensive rejection of the scheme, the Council stated that having regard to its scale, form, massing and overall height, the proposed development fails to respond to the baseline environment and surrounding historical and natural environment of the site which is located within a designated 'Highly Sensitive Landscape', a Buffer Zone for the Howth Special Amenity Area Order and adjoins Howth Castle Architectural Conservation Area.
The Council also found that the scheme would be wholly inconsistent with the established character of this area, would be seriously injurious to the visual amenities of the area and would be detrimental to the character, setting and special interest of a number of protected structures including Howth Castle and St. Marys Church.
The planning authority also found that the proposed development would set a poor precedent for other similar developments.
The Council also rejected the proposal due to its height as it would be visually dominant in addition to being significantly intrusive on the skyline and on approach into and out of Howth village.
In its objection, the Howth and Sutton Community Council claimed that the apartment scheme will destroy the visual impact of the Architectural Conservation Area of Howth Castle.
Chairman of the Council, Andrew J Smith argued that "the siting of 135 apartments on this site next to a castle of great historic interest is totally inappropriate".
Mr Smith pointed to other housing and apartment plans for Howth stating that along with the scheme before the Council, a cumulative 925 are proposed.
He said that this would result in a 24% in the population of Howth based on the 2022 census.
On behalf of Hillwatch, Jacqueline Feeley told the council that the scheme does not address the shortage of affordable family homes in Dublin, and will not contribute to the sustainable long-term development of Howth community.
Ms Feeley further stated "more small apartments, possibly for rent, are not what Howth needs".
"What is required are family sized units to meet the needs of the local community. There is no objection in principle to development on this site, but it is critical that the proposal be redesigned to one that does not encroach on High Amenity lands, that enhances and complements Howth village and environs, contributes to a community life, rather than harming its unique qualities and historical integrity," she said.
The applicants now have the option of appealing the refusal to An Bord Pleanala.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
