DUBLIN: An Bord Pleanala has granted planning permission for a €160 million student accommodation project in Goatstown, south Dublin. The appeals board gave its approval, despite opposition from two ministers and locals.
The project, which would shelter 698 students across eight blocks in Goatstown, was approved under the Fast Track ‘Strategic Housing Development (SHD) scheme. Locals had protested and expressed concern over the seven-storey project.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin and Minister for State for Special Education and Inclusion, Josepha Madigan conveyed the sentiments of the locals to the appeals board. However, the board ignored it and granted planning permission.
The appeals board received 64 submissions from locals against the project. However, the board favored the project by going against the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Development Plan’s height, density, and open space requirements.
The An Bord Pleanala had earlier given planning approval for a fast-track project with 132 apartments. But the High Court had revoked the permit after considering the case of a local resident.
The board said the plan would be approved on the basis of the 2040 National Planning Framework. The board inspector Elaine Power stated that the site is capable of accommodating a high density project. He pointed out that the proposed development will have no negative impact on the area’s residential or visual amenities, as well as property in the surrounding area.
The site of the proposed scheme is in Our Lady’s Grove, Goatstown, around 850 metres from University College Dublin. The scheme was proposed by Hollybrook Homes, an Irish arm of Michael Cox’s UK-based building company.
A spokesman for Hollybrook Homes said that it welcomed the An Bord Pleanala decision. “The Board has acknowledged that this is an ideal site for student accommodation, just 850 metres from the UCD campus and close to Luas, bus and cycle lanes,” he said.
“It will make a previously inaccessible site accessible with a linear park and nature trail with 37.5 per cent of the site in open park space. Work on the €160 million scheme will commence as soon as possible to facilitate students for the 2024 academic year,” the spokesman added.
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