Bord Pleanála clears way for Goodman build-to-rent scheme for Beaumont

Laurence Goodman jnr's Urban Life property arm has secured planning permission for a contentious build-to-rent apartment scheme for Beaumont in north Dublin. An Bord Pleanála overturned Dublin City Council's refusal of permission for the scheme at Ellenfield Road.

The project attracted strong local opposition, with TDs Seán Haughey and Róisín Shortall among the 165 parties lodging objections against the scheme.

Urban Life (BMD) Ltd initially proposed a 99-unit, two-block apartment scheme, with one block reaching to eight storeys.

Dublin City Council concluded the height, scale and massing of the scheme was excessive and would significantly detract from the visual amenities of the area.

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However, in response to an appeal by the Goodman firm, the appeals board has now granted planning permission though it has reduced the eight-storey block by two storeys.

The appeals board concluded the scheme “would constitute an acceptable density of development in this accessible urban location, would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity”.

The board also found that the scheme would be acceptable in terms of urban design, height and quantum of development.

An Bord Pleanála said it was reducing the eight-storey height to six storeys in the interests of visual and residential amenity, traffic and pedestrian safety.

Transient

In her objection Ms Shortall had claimed that the build-to-rent scheme would create a transient population in the area. “In chasing a narrow section of society to extract maximum profit, this application would not make a positive contribution to the local area.”

Mr Haughey said the height and scale of the scheme was totally out of character with the area and constitutes over-development.

Last year the 40-year-old Mr Goodman jnr was put in a key succession position in the beef to property empire of his father Larry Goodman.

The most recent consolidated accounts for Urban Life Ltd show that in 2020 pretax profits fell by 93.5 per cent to €458,787 as revenues declined by €17.5 million or 69 per cent to €7.75 million.