Plans for 881 Dundrum apartments rejected

An Bord Pleanála (ABP) has rejected a €500 million proposal to construct nearly 900 apartments on the site of the old shopping centre in Dundrum village.

The planning authority cited concerns that the project, consisting of 881 apartments, would “seriously detract from the architectural character of the area” and have an and “overbearing” impact on nearby properties.

The proposed development, submitted by Dundrum Retail GP—jointly owned by UK property group Hammerson and German insurance giant Allianz—received hundreds of objections from local residents and stakeholders.

Many submissions described the scheme as a “visual catastrophe,” a “monstrosity,” and a “concrete jungle.”

The plans included 11 apartment blocks, one of which would have risen to 16 storeys, making it a landmark structure in the area.

However, An Bord Pleanála determined that the design conflicted with the character of Dundrum village, particularly its architectural conservation area, as well as the settings of nearby protected structures, including the historic Holy Cross Church and its associated features.

ABP also highlighted issues with the proposal’s residential mix, noting that more than 335 one-bedroom apartments were included—over a third of the total.

This was deemed an “excessive proportion” and a violation of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan. Furthermore, An Bord Pleanála criticized the heavy reliance on roof gardens for communal open space, which it said conflicted with local planning guidelines.

In a statement accompanying its decision, the board concluded that the development would provide a “substandard form of residential amenity” and would not support sustainable planning for the area. It also flagged the lack of supporting amenities and the limited allocation of non-residential uses, with 95% of the proposed floor space dedicated to apartments.

Responding to the news of ABP’s decision, Imagine Dundrum, a local community advocacy group, said they welcome the refusal of planning permission for the ‘monolithic’ development.

“Imagine Dundrum strongly welcomes the An Bórd Pleanála decision to refuse planning permission for the Hammerson-Allianz Planning Application for 881 apartments on the site of the old Shopping Centre in Dundrum and associated works,” the group said in a statement.

“The decision supports the comprehensive case made by Imagine Dundrum in our 170- page submission to An Bord Pleanála, and is a clear vindication and acknowledgement of the deep concerns of the local community, as expressed in over 700 objections to the proposals.

“One of the first achievements of Imagine Dundrum was to secure designation for Main Street as an Architectural Conservation Area.

“We are especially happy to see that An Bórd Pleanála gives as a key reason for the refusal of planning permission that the proposal would seriously detract from the architectural character of the area, and particularly the character of Main Street and the Dundrum Architectural Conservation Area.

“The future of heritage buildings in Dundrum is secure.

“The local community wants to see this site developed, but in a way that is right for the Village, the surrounding communities, and new residents who will come to live in Dundrum.”

“We are very relieved that ABP have taken this decision,” said the spokesperson for Imagine Dundrum.

“But it is a source of considerable regret to us that Hammerson-Allianz chose not to engage with the community and share ideas for the best future for Dundrum Village, and that a great deal of time has been lost in moving forward towards an exciting and sustainable future for the Village.

“We now call on Hammerson-Allianz to commit to proactive engagement with the community ahead of any new Planning Application.”