A joint venture involving US property giant Kennedy Wilson has secured planning permission for a 101 build-to-rent apartment scheme for Stillorgan.
An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission to KW PRS ICAV for the fast-track scheme at lands adjacent to Brewery Road and Stillorgan Road despite concerns expressed over the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
The council said that while it welcomed the redevelopment of the underutilised site, it had serious concerns relating to its scale, massing and height.
However, as part of its 60-page submission to An Bord Pleanála, it stated that “whilst the planning authority is not in favour of permitting the scheme as proposed, a grant of permission is nevertheless recommended, subject to conditions addressing the issues raised in this report”.
Janan Ganesh: Elon Musk is wasted in the US – but he might shock Europe into changing its ways
Peter Pan review: Gaiety panto takes off with dizzying ensemble numbers and breathtaking effects
Lebanon ceasefire: ‘We have no windows, no doors but we can live. Not like other people’
Sally Rooney: When are we going to have the courage to stop the climate crisis?
The proposed development site is bounded by the N11, Grange Cottage and a permitted SHD 287-unit apartment scheme under construction.
The scheme comprises three studios, 79 one-bed units and 20 two-bed units.
In its decision to grant, the appeals board ruled that the scheme would be acceptable in terms of urban design, height and quantum of development. The appeals board also ruled that the proposed development would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity.
One of a number of local residents to make a submission, Katriona O’Keeffe, said that the scheme was too large in scale, density and height and the mix of apartments was not compatible with family living.
A turbulent recovery for tourism and air travel
Tourism and air travel have rebounded strongly in 2022 after two years of pandemic restrictions. But both are also facing major issues around pricing, staff and availability of product.Hotelier Lorraine Sweeney and Irish Times Business Affairs Correspondent Mark Paul outline some of the problems faced by the hospitality sector. Ciarán is also joined by aviation expert, Joe Gill of Goodbody, to discuss how airlines across Europe are faring and whether the queuing at Dublin Airport will have a lasting impact on Ireland’s reputation as a tourism destination.
The planning board inspector in the case, Paul O’Brien, concluded that “overall the proposed development will provide for a high quality of residential amenity in this part of Stillorgan.
“Room sizes, layout, and proposed amenity spaces, in terms of area, are considered to be of a good standard. I have no issue in relation to the non-provision of three-bedroom units considering that this is a Build to Rent development.”
Mr O’Brien also concluded that the design of the building would integrate into its surroundings and the proposed apartment block provides for a more appropriate relationship with the roadside edge.
