A prominent Sinn Féin TD has claimed that opposition to a €106 million apartment scheme for Terenure in Dublin “is not nimbyism”.
In an objection to fast-track plans by Lioncor Developments subsidiary 1 Terenure Land Ltd for the 208-unit, six-storey apartment scheme, Aengus Ó Snodaigh said that "nobody could say that the imposition of five blocks of six-storey apartments backing onto and overlooking the gardens of Dublin Corporation-built 1930s/40s two-storey homes is suitable, as is being proposed with the Carlisle development".
More than 75 objections have been lodged against the scheme for lands beside the Ben Dunne Carlisle Gym, Kimmage Road West, Terenure, Dublin 12. Others to object include a number of residents' groups: the Kimmage Dublin Residents Alliance, the Kimmage Road West Residents Association and Terenure West Residents Association.
The scheme is comprised of 104 one-bed apartments and 104 two-bed apartments. The developers have put an indicative price tag of €10.66 million on 21 apartments to be sold to Dublin City Council for social housing.
The Part V documentation lodged with the scheme puts an indicative price of €668,155 on one two-bedroom unit.
Consequences
In his objection, Mr Ó Snodaigh told An Bord Pleanála that there are consequences to the "exorbitant" guide price of €670,000 for a two-bedroomed apartment.
The Dublin South Central TD said setting such a price “means that the apartments will be well out of reach for most of those looking for starter homes – young working couples. Such prices will also add to the inflationary pressures on homes in the vicinity, most of which would not come within an ass’s roar of the price guide being set for this apartment complex”.
Mr Ó Snodaigh stated that local opposition against the scheme “is not nimbyism, and not one of the residents who contacted me in relation to this development argued against housing per se”.
He added: “Each and every one of them are aware of the housing crisis and the need for more homes, and especially for family homes.”
The Kimmage Road West Residents Association told the appeals board that the scheme “is out of proportion to the existing housing in the surrounding area and will contribute to the already problematic situation regarding traffic on Kimmage Road”.
In her objection drawn up by Marston Consultancy for local residents, Roberta McCrossan argued that the subject site “is not an appropriate location for the scale and density of the proposed residential development, nor is the site appropriate for the heights and layout proposed”.
An Bord Pleanála is due to make a decision on the application in July.
