Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has given the green light for a €75 million 150 unit scheme for Mount Anville Rd in Goatstown despite local opposition.
The scheme by Knockrabo Investments DAC for the 138 apartments and 12 houses includes one apartment block eight storeys high.
The Large Scale Residential Development (LRD) scheme for Knockrabo, Mount Anville Rd, Goatstown, D14 is phase two of the development of the Knockrabo lands.
The Council concluded that taking into account the massing, scale and form of the scheme it would not adversely impact on local amenities.
In an objection, the Birchfield Residents Association told the Council that the development "is overbearing in its design, with severe consequences for the surrounding low-rise residential area".
The association told the council that the proposed heights for the phase of development at eight storeys "are significantly higher than those previously built and are inconsistent with the gradual transition expected in the urban design strategy, leading to a loss of privacy and a diminished sense of residential amenities".
The association also stated that the proposal "reflects an excessively high density and scale unsuitable for the site's suburban context, with inadequate separation distances between buildings".
Cllr John Kennedy (FG) told the council that the proposed height of the scheme would be excessive calling for the application to be rejected.
On behalf of Mount Anville Road Residents Association, Eleanor Lyons contended that the scheme "will result in severe and lasting impacts on the local area's character, amenities, and sustainability".
The developers initially proposed 158 units but the Council ordered the omission of a five storey apartment block comprising eight apartments.
As part of its Part V social housing obligations, Knockrabo put a €7.37 million price tag on the sale of 15 units to the Council.
The company has put an indicative price of €504,464 on two bedroom units and €619,160 on the three bedroom units.
A letter from the Council's Housing Department states that the unit costs exceeded the Council’s threshold but acknowledges that the costs are estimated.
The letter states that any Part V proposals will be subject to planning permission and funding being made available and agreement being reached on land values and construction development costs.
Planning consultants for the applicants, Tom Phillips + Associates told the Council that the scheme is "of a high architectural design and will constitute a significant positive addition to the visual landscape in the environs of the application site".
The proposed development will support the development of this underutilised, infill suburban site to a medium density residential use, in accordance with national, regional and local planning policy.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
