Councillors say Davitt Road development ‘ignores’ community needs

Dublin City Councillors have said that the proposed SHD apartment complex on Davitt Road “completely ignores” the community needs of Drimnagh and is wholly inappropriate for the area.

The development, which has been filed to An Bord Pleanala by property developers Heidelberg Davitt Limited, would include the demolition of the old Heidelberg-Miller building currently located on the site and the construction of 188 build-to-rent apartments.

The application was filed with the board in March and a decision on the proposal is expected in June.

Independent councillor for the area, Pat Dunne said that local residents have a “number of concerns” regarding the development which include the height and size of the complex and lack of public amenities.

The complex would consist of two buildings in a u-shaped block ranging from part-three to part-nine storeys over basement level.

“We’re not against development,” says Dunne.

“It’s the bulk, the scale of this particular development that is wrong for the area.”

Sinn Fein councillor Daithí Doolan says that residents in the area want to see the site developed, but this proposal does “not assist the community”.

“We want to see these sites developed, we live near them, we deal with the consequences – fires, vandalism, anti-social behaviour at these sites and we want that resolved,” he says.

“The best way to resolve these issues is to develop the sites in a holistic way for the community.

“Residents want housing and development that assist the community, benefit the community and provide solutions to the community,” he says.

Objections have also been raised by residents of Galtymore Road, located just south of the site.

A rendering of the view of the complex from Galtymore Road has been submitted to ABP as part of the application and shows how the apartment block will significantly overlook the houses.

Dunne also says that the construction of the apartments could damage the houses on the road.

“These houses were built nearly 100 years ago, in the 1930s.

“There is real concern that during the construction phase you would have vibrations that could shake and damage the infrastructure,” he says.

“We have seen it with the development of the new Children’s Hospital at St James’.”

Dunne says that Drimnagh locals are expressed concern about how the area “has been left behind in many ways in terms of community development.

“To see a private development of this nature completely ignore that lack of civic spaces – I think is really disappointing.”

The proposal includes the development of two commercial units and an external communal courtyard and roof terraces, but the development of public parks or spaces have not been included in the plans.

“One community gain could be that the commercial units be given to locals at zero rent or significantly reduced rent,” says Dunne.

“All they are doing is building apartments with no community facilities.”

Doolan says that that private developments such as this are indicative of “developers squeezing every last ounce of opportunity out of these sites without any long-term thinking.

“I fear this is a knee-jerk reaction or piecemeal plan for Davitt Road, where there is not an overall plan for the area.”