A high-profile five-acre site on Glasnevin's Botanic Avenue was said to have achieved approximately €4.5 million when a UK buyer, IDV Developments, purchased it at the end of 2013. Now, almost a year later, a planning application has been submitted by a separate company, Westhill Atlantic, for the development of the old Smurfit site, which could bring about the construction of more than 18,600sq m (200,000sq ft) of much-needed residential development in this popular Dublin suburb.

Bounded to the south by one of Glasnevin’s most prestigious residential addresses, Iona Road, the proposed development would involve the construction of 147 residential units in total – 63 apartments, 18 maisonettes and 66 houses. The majority of the apartments will be large two- and three-bedroom units, with between 80sq m (860sq ft) and 100sq m (1,075sq ft) of internal space.

Just four one-bedroom apartments are planned and the emphasis seems to be very much on the provision of family homes as most of the site appears to be occupied by houses with private gardens. Of the 66 houses proposed, 47 will be four-bedroom homes. The developer expects car ownership levels will not be high due to its central location and proximity to public transport, and so just one parking spot per unit has been provided for.

The plans include a large crèche fronting onto Botanic Road along with a number of retail units. The site was occupied until around 2007 by the former Smurfit Print plant, which was closed in 2001.

If granted permission, this Botanic Road development promises to be one of the largest-scale developments to take place in recent years in Dublin.