AN BORD PLEANÁLA has approved almost 1,000 new homes for Dublin despite housebuilding activity being at a virtual standstill and builders unable to sell homes on so-called ghost estates.
The board gave the green light to Viscount Securities, an associate of Park Developments, for 438 housing units at Diswellstown, near Castleknock – in a mix that includes detached and semi-detached houses, duplexes and apartments. The developer has suggested that, given the size of the scheme and the state of the housing market, the homes need to be built in phases – at least five phases. However, among the planning conditions laid down by the board is that the development be carried out in just two phases.
Meanwhile, Crescent Park Properties Ltd, whose directors are David and Karl Pierce, has got the go-ahead from the board for phase two of a development on a 90-acre site south of Flemington Lane in Balbriggan.
It includes over 500 homes, a boulevard, a C-ring road to connect Bridgefoot Road and Flemington Lane, an urban square, public park and civic space, a sports hall and crèche.
An industry source said that while he is not commenting specifically on the planning permissions in Balbriggan and Castleknock, some developers are going through the planning process to “get it out of the way rather than wait six months when there may be signs of activity and then have to go through 18 months of appeals”. In the case of greenfield sites, some companies are seeking planning permission “so they can get valuations with regard to Nama”.
