Laurence Goodman jnr firm contests planning refusal

Two blocks in Beaumont would range in height from three to six storeys

A Laurence Goodman Jnr firm is contesting a decision by Dublin City Council to refuse planning permission for a six-storey, build-to-rent scheme at Beaumont in north Dublin.

Last month the council refused planning permission to Mr Goodman’s Urban Life (BMD) Ltd for 99 apartments at Beaumont Road, Beaumont Grove and Ellenfield Road at Dublin 9.

The two blocks range in height from three to six storeys.

Mr Goodman’s firm, Urban Life (BMD) has lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the council refusal.

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The appeals board previously granted planning permission to Urban Life (BMD) in January of this year for a build-to-rent scheme at the same site but ordered that the top two floors of an eight-storey building be omitted resulting in a loss of apartments from the 99-unit apartment scheme.

The council had also refused planning permission for that scheme.

Concerning the new six-storey scheme, the council refused permission after concluding that it “would provide a substandard level of residential amenity for future occupants of this proposed Build to Rent residential scheme”.

Reasons for refusal

The local authority stated that “the scheme is considered seriously substandard with regard to the overall quality and quantity of the Residential Support Facilities and Residents Services and Amenities proposed”.

The council also refused planning permission after concluding that “the proposed development by reason of its height, scale, massing and proximity to the site boundaries would adversely impact on the amenities of existing adjacent properties”.

Planning documents lodged with the application state that the proposal will assist in the development of an underutilised brownfield site zoned for residential development.

The planning report also stated that the proposal offers efficient use of a brownfield site without loss of existing residential amenity.

The council issued its refusal after receiving 51 objections against the scheme.

One of those to object was co-leader of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall TD.

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan is a contributor to The Irish Times