Castlethorn schemes appealed in Stepaside and PelletstownStepaside locals are opposing planning permission granted to Joe O'Reilly's Castlethorn Construction for 281 homes at the Old Wesley Rugby Club, Kilgobbin Lane, Stepaside, Co Dublin.

Several residents groups are appealing the proposed scheme of 281 residential units of mostly apartments and 52 houses and dormer bungalows.

In a letter to An Bord Pleanála, Stepaside Residents say that the density of the development is excessive. "With a further 281 residences it is estimated that a total of between 5,000 and 6,000 vehicles will be seeking exit to and from the Enniskerry road at peak times."

In west Dublin another Castlethorn development has been appealed to the planning board. Two residents of the Rathborne development on the Navan Road in Ashtown, Dublin 15, have appealed permission for a scheme of 252 residential units and office space at Pelletstown, Ashtown, Dublin 15. In their appeal, Frank Healy and Lorna Wade say the area is being overdeveloped and already includes Rathborne, and Earlswood at Rathborne, also built by Castlethorn Construction, and Ballymore Properties' Royal Canal Park. "This has already brought difficulties relating to the traffic, poor road safety, insufficient parking, noise, waste management problems, crime, anti-social behaviour and lack of public facilities in the area," they contend.

Large retail and residential schemes planned for Balbriggan

Two developers have submitted plans to Fingal County Council for schemes in Balbriggan, Co Dublin.

Developers David and Karl Pierce are looking to build 1,057 homes on a 90-acre site north of Naul Road. This includes four one-bed apartments, 292 two-beds, 30 two-bed duplexes, 22 two-bed houses, 58 three-bed apartments, 234 duplex apartments, 85 three-bed houses, 45 four-bed duplex apartments, 206 four-bed houses and 81 five-bed houses.

Nearby, the Parkway Partnership is proposing a shopping centre as part of a larger development for the area. This would have an anchor store and 28 retail units, six office units, a health and fitness centre, medial centre, restaurant and food court. The shopping centre would be accessed via a glazed internal street and the anchor store would be 9,640sq m (103,764sq ft). This is part of a Liffey Valley style scheme on a 254-acre site.