Two planning applications for major schemes illustrate the very strong demand for apartments even as far away from Dublin's suburbs as the M50 ring road. Where one would have seen only applications for suburban homes, the need for greater density has changed radically the type of planning application which is coming before Dublin's county councils.

Castlepark Construction, has applied to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for 103 apartments at College Road, Rathfarnham, adjacent to the soon-to-be-opened Southern Cross Motorway. The just over three-acre site is also bounded by College and Kellystown roads. The proposal is for three blocks of three and four storeys with penthouses. There is also to be a semi-basement car-park. Around the M50, at the other end of the city, an application for 108 apartments on a site at Jamestown Road, Meakstown, Dublin 11, in the names of Chantik Ltd and Mr Michael Casey, has been lodged with Fingal County Council. The development also includes houses and duplex apartments bringing the total number of units to 216.

The apartments will include 23 one-bedroom units, 74 two-beds and 11 three-bed homes above a basement car-park with 192 spaces. The duplex apartments will feature six two-storey two-bedroom units; 37 two-storey 3-bedroom units and nine two-storey, four-bed units above 22 two-bed apartments and four three-bedroom apartments.

The application also covers 12 two-storey two-beds, 16 two-storey three-beds and two two-storey four-bedroom townhouses.