Plans to build houses in the grounds of two large period homes in Blackrock and Foxrock have been turned down by An Bord Pleanála. Edel Morgan reports
An Bord Pleanála has vetoed proposals for two residential developments in the grounds of south Dublin period homes.
The board refused planning permission for a development of 11 detached houses in the grounds of Ferndene on Deansgrange Road in Blackrock, Co Dublin because it said the scale, form and layout, including proximity to site boundaries, "would result in a significant breach of the building line on Deansgrange Road".
The decision will be welcomed by the five parties who appealed the scheme to An Bord Pleanála. Among their concerns were that the two-storey over basement height of the houses would be out of keeping with other houses in the area and that adjacent properties would suffer serious overlooking and devaluation.
By refusing planning permission, An Bord Pleanála overruled its inspector's recommendation and said the development would endanger the survival of existing mature trees.
In 2004, Frank Cruess-Callaghan was refused planning permission for 42 apartments with underground car-parking on the site. The Cruess-Callaghans put the house on the market more than five years ago but withdrew it when it failed to reach the guide of €3.81m.
Meanwhile in Foxrock, An Bord Pleanála has refused Maurice and Theresa Leahy planning permission to build a 116sq m (1,248sq ft) gate-lodge and a parking space at Grove House on Hainault Road, Dublin 18 because it would result in overdevelopment of the site.
Foxrock Area Development Limited (FADL), which vigorously opposed the development, contended that development permitted at Grove House is already "more than enough".
Maurice and Theresa Leahy of Silkmore Developments had been waiting since 2001 for their planning permission to come through. They were finally granted permission to re-configure a two-and-a-half storey extension to Grove House to provide eight apartments and build nine detached houses in the grounds.
They originally bought Grove House on three acres for € 6.3 million and initially sought permission for 46 apartments and eight terraced townhouses as well as a gate-lodge on stilts which was turned down by An Bord Pleanála.
