Park Developments is about to lodge a planning application with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to build a residential development in the grounds of Notre Dame school in Churchtown, Dublin 14.

Developer Harry Cotter is looking to build 298 apartments on the seven-acre site which it bought last year for €30 million. The Sisters of the Notre Dame de Missions originally planned to close the school but, following protest by parents, it will remain open and will be run by a trust company controlled by parents.

The development will comprise a mix of apartments, duplexes and triplex houses in eight new buildings which would range in height from three to seven storeys.

Fernbank House, a protected structure on the grounds, will be retained and refurbished as a crèche. This will involve the removal of an accommodation wing to the west and a single storey pavilion will be built on to the east side of the house. A walled garden will be restored.

Another building on the site is a three-storey convent building containing a chapel refectory, kitchen, and sleeping accommodation. All of the buildings will be laid out around a series of courtyards and open space, and will be built over basement car-parks with spaces for 415 cars.

The development is bounded by Churchtown Road Upper to the north and east, and the existing senior and proposed junior school to the west.

Park Developments is behind another residential enclave on former religious-owned grounds, Mount St Annes in Milltown. Students at the adjacent Alexandra College staged a protest last year after the school's governing body had talks with Park Developments about building on school land, including the hockey pitch.