Maxol want to turn D4 petrol station into apartment block

An Irish oil company who are moving into property development want to knock down one of their Dublin petrol stations to build apartments.

Maxol Property have applied to An Bord Pleanála for permission for a strategic housing development at the site of the Maxol Filling Station and vacant garage (formerly Michael Grant Motors) on Beach Road, Dublin 4.

According to the Building Info website the oil company wants to build a six-storey complex consisting of 112 apartments.

56 of which will be one-beds and 56 which will be two-bedroom apartments.

The build-to-rent development would have communal spaces including a gym, lounging areas, work spaces, conference rooms, and offices.

Picture credit 3D Design Bureau

The basement level would provide 79 car parking spaces, four motorbike spaces and 224 bicycle spaces.

The site is bounded by Church Avenue to the north, St Matthew’s National School and a residential development to the south and west; the junction between Cranfield Place and Beach Road to the south; and Beach Road to the east.

In their cover letter with the application, Maxol say:

“The subject site is located within a part of the City that is experiencing significant transformation as the emphasis on sustainable development requires the replacement of extensive, low-density, inappropriately located development with more intensive development, particularly centrally located, serviced residential lands.

“The south docklands area (c. 700 m to the northwest of the site) has been subject to extensive redevelopment during the last 30 years, becoming high density, high quality mixed-use area.

“That area is included in the North Lotts and Grand Canal Docks Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) Planning Scheme, and is now subject to the ‘fast-track’ planning system.

“Parts of Ballsbridge (also c. 700m from the site) particularly the area located between Lansdowne Road and Serpentine Road have been developed to accommodate large offices and residential developments.

“In May 2016, the Government designated the Poolbeg West area (c. 300 m to the east of the site) as a further Strategic Development Zone (SDZ). That SDZ area measures c. 34 hectares and is deemed to be of economic and social importance to the State. The Poolbeg West Planning Scheme was adopted in April 2019.

“The development of this area will radically alter the context of the wider area.”

Previously, in 2018 a plan for a five-storey apartment scheme was approved by Dublin city council but was appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

The planning board ruled then that the scheme could go ahead.

It said the site was suitable for development since it was in a well-serviced area in close proximity to the city centre and transport facilities.