An innovative development of sustainable homes built in a period style is in the pipeline for Killiney, Co Dublin.
A planning application has just been lodged with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for the the demolition of four houses on a three-acre site on Church Road close to Killiney Gate to make way for the 35-unit scheme.
Durkan Residential and Monti, headed up by Neil Monaghan, have formed the Church Road Partnership to deliver the scheme.
The developers are seeking to build 30 terraced houses, two semi-detached and three detached homes.
The Church Road Partnership is not discussing prices at the moment but, if the scheme gets the go-ahead, prices would be expected to be in the region of €1.25 million.
The aim, according to the developers, is to marry the ecological principles used by Monti at its Watermint apartment scheme in Cabinteely with the classical designs of Durkan Residential's flagship and well-received Brown's Barn Wood in Citywest.
The four-bedroom houses will be laid out over three floors and have 186-288sq m (2,000-3,100sq ft) of space.
The developers anticipate that the scheme will have an "A2" rating under the new Building Energy Ratings (BER), which come into effect in the new year.
The scheme will incorporate a range of energy efficient features, including a district heating system powered by wood pellets, solar panels on the roofs and eco-bead insulation. Continued ventilation of the houses will be provided by supply air windows and passive stack windows and chimneys.
The proposed development has been designed by architects McGrane & Partners and incorporates granite detail, ironmongery and balconies. Sustainable architect Jay Stewart is also working on the scheme. Among other sustainable elements being considered by the developers is an "edible landscape" - communal landscaping incorporating edible plants and trees.
Meanwhile, Rendl Properties, another company in which Neil Monaghan is involved, has lodged a planning application for another sustainable scheme this time in Palmerston, Dublin 20.
Rendl is seeking permission from South Dublin County Council for a mixed-use development on a 2.5-acre site off the N4.
The scheme will incorporate 61 apartments and townhouses, 20 shops and 2,787sq m (30,000sq ft) of own-door office space.
It will be centred around a new pedestrian plaza which will connect with the main street in Palmerston village.
Designed by architects DMOD, the residential units will be larger than average. One-bedroom apartments will be around 56sq m (600sq ft) and triplex three-bedroom homes will be over 102sq m (1,100sq ft).
Sustainable principles incorporated in the design of the scheme include district heating systems, combined heat-power units and eco-friendly cement, glazing and insulation.
