AN BORD Pleanala has granted permission for a scheme of over 100 apartments on the Carr Communications site at the junction of Booterstown Avenue and Stillorgan Road - overturning a decision by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County council to refuse permission.

However, while the planning board granted Charles and Edmund O'Reilly Hyland permission for the apartments, it significantly reduced the number of units originally sought. The O'Reilly Hylands were looking to build 129 apartments in three blocks ranging from three to six storeys as well as a terrace of six three-bed houses. An Bord Pleanala's conditions, however, reduced the number of apartments and ruled that the houses be omitted.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council refused permission for the O'Reilly Hyland's scheme on the grounds of its density, design, materials and the "unrelieved nature and bulk" of apartment blocks, and because it was in conflict with Department of Environment and Local Government residential density guidelines.

The developers appealed on the grounds that 60 units per acre density is acceptable for a site considered "inner suburban infill", and maintained the development "provides a balance between efficient utilisation of infill site and residential amenities". With regard to overlooking, it said the terrace of two storey houses had no rear facing windows on the eastern boundary.

It said the tallest six-storey building would be adjacent to the Stillorgan Road - 60 metres from the nearest house and the materials and finish of the scheme would provide a "lightweight appearance".

The close proximity of blocks and a loss of amenity "is not a valid reason for refusal and could have been dealt with by a request for further information or by conditions", said the appeal.

An Bord Pleanála went against the inspector's recommendation and granted permission with 14 conditions.

It ruled that the terrace of six houses to east of the site be omitted from the scheme and one of the apartment blocks must be "modified by the omission of first floor and reduction of its length through the omission of the two northern most apartments on each remaining floor".

The residential scheme is only one element of the redevelopment of the 2.26-acre site owned by Carr Communications.

Currently a series of flat roof office structures built in the 1960s and early 1970s, Carr Communication's plan to redevelop its headquarters is the subject of an An Bord Pleanála appeal.

Eight appeals were lodged - mostly by residents of Hampton park to the east of the site - against planning permission to build a five-storey block of offices, a television studio and control room, boardroom, canteen and 39 basement car spaces.