Contentious apartment plan gets green light in Montrose

AN BORD Pleanála has given the go-ahead for a plan that has been dubbed ‘Ballymun Towers South Dublin’ by one objector.

House builder Cairn Homes recently secured planning permission for their €338m apartment development on the site of former RTÉ land at Montrose in Dublin 4.

Their 611-apartment plan, branded ‘Project Montrose’, will consist of apartment blocks from four to 10 storeys in height, as well as three townhouses.

Permission was granted despite strong opposition from some local residents.

Some 19 objections were lodged against the plan including from the Ailesbury Road Residents’ Association and the Austrian embassy

The appeals board, however, decided the proposal would constitute “an acceptable quantum and density of development in this accessible urban location”.

The Senior Planning Inspector with the appeals board recommended in a 162-page report that planning permission be granted.

“While the increased height contrasts with the surrounding residential and institutional developments, it represents a reasonable response to its context and is stepped down at site boundaries to reduce impacts on adjacent properties and protected structures,” the inspector said.

“I am satisfied that the development will not result in significant adverse impacts on residential amenities such as would warrant a refusal of permission.

“The design and quality of residential accommodation provided is of a high standard and is satisfactory.”

The appeals board attached 29 conditions to the decision.

Cairn Homes paid RTÉ €107.5m for the 8.64 acre site back in 2017.

The granting of planning permission means they can begin talks with Dublin City Council over their proposal to sell 61 of the apartments to the council for €30.17m to comply with social housing obligations.

A value of €521,377 on the two-bed apartments and €472,797 on the one-bed apartments was included in documentation lodged with the application.

The development will consist of 37 one-bedroom apartments and 24 two bed apartments with Part V apartments to be located in one eight-storey block in the scheme.

An Bord Pleanala gave the plan the go ahead after a 67-page planner’s report from Dublin City Council recommended that planning permission be granted for the ‘Project Montrose’ plan.

Planners recommended planning permission be granted despite several members of Dublin City Council expressing “serious reservations” over the plan.

In a statement Cairn Homes welcomed the decision of An Bord Pleanala.
“Cairn’s focus is on designing and delivering exceptional apartment schemes in great locations,” they said.

“Cairn looks forward to the opportunity of adding Montrose to its expanding delivery portfolio of high-quality apartments.” developments.

“The Board in its direction stated that the Cairn development ‘is considered to be of strategic and national importance having regard to the definition of strategic housing development….and its potential to contribute to the achievement of the Government’s policy to increase delivery of housing from its current under supply set out in Rebuilding Ireland’”.