One of Dublin's leading house builders, Park Developments, has won a three-year battle to build a large apartment and housing scheme on the site of the former St Anne's Convent and national school at Milltown, Dublin.
An Bord Pleanala has reversed a previous decision and cleared the way for 471 apartments and houses on the 18-acre site, which is acknowledged as one of the best available on the south side of the city. About 40 of the apartments are to be located in the former convent, chapel and schools buildings. Work on the site is due to start next Easter.
Park bought the site in March 1995 and has twice secured permission for the new homes from Dublin Corporation. The first decision was overturned by the planning appeals board on the grounds that it was "visually obtrusive" and overlooked houses in the area.
The Milltown and Ranelagh Alliance of Residents' Associations has twice appealed against the decision of the city planners granting permission for the development.
Park paid £8.37 million for the convent buildings and land. Although the sale set a new record for housing land in the suburbs, the property is now valued at well over £20 million. One of the attractions of the site is that it will adjoin the route of Luas, the light rail service which is to run between the city centre and Sandyford.
The severe shortage of housing land in Dublin over the past five years has meant that most first-time buyers have had to move to either west or north Dublin to buy starter homes.
Another order of nuns is to sell a convent building and residential site of over seven acres beside Bushy Park in Templeogue, Dublin. Estate agents Hamilton Osborne King expect to secure more than £8 million for the site.
