A proposal to build 130 apartments on the former grounds of the National College of Ireland in Ranelagh, Dublin 6 and to turn Sandford Lodge into offices has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála. Edel Morgan reports

Seven parties appealed planning permission granted to Frenchwood Ltd by Dublin City Council for the scheme.

Frenchwood Ltd - a division of Capel Developments - obtained planning permission for a 10,930 sq m (117,650 sq ft) science and technology park but subsequently decided to seek revised permission for a residential scheme due to the cyclical fall-off in demand for commercial space.

Frenchwood Ltd failed to get planning permission for a larger residential scheme over three years ago.

Capel developments paid more than €17 million in 1999 for the former college which stands on 3.8 acres beside Gonzaga college and Sandford Church of Ireland National school.

The current proposal is for 130 units, made up of 80 one-bed and 16 two-bed units in two and three-storey blocks, of with 20 per cent is reserved for social and affordable housing.

There would also be 130 basement car-parking spaces in the development.

Among the concerns of appellants is that it will cause increased traffic congestion along Sandford Close - a narrow road with a footpath on one side, which already serves Sandford National School and Gonzaga and which they believe would be a traffic hazard and would have safety implications for school children.

An appeal by the board of management of Sandford Parish National School, Sandford Parish and the Parent Teacher Association of Sandford Parish National School said the proposal contravenes the Z12 zoning which seeks to protect existing environmental amenities in any future uses of these lands.

It says that the provision of 10 parking spaces for the national school is totally inadequate - an earlier proposal for the site designated 40 drop-off and pick-up spaces to avoid congestion on Sandford Close.

It said a residential scheme would cause "a conflict of traffic" with residents trying to exit Sandford Close and parents trying to access it.

Another concern is that the car-parking provision is unacceptably low with 130 spaces for 130 units.

Several residents of Hollybank Avenue appealed on grounds of overlooking and overshadowing, as did one from Merton Drive.