Rathcoole townhouses rejected: JP Molloy Builders Ltd has lost a first party appeal to An Bord Pleanála to build 174 two and three-bed townhouses in 29 blocks at Stoney Road, Rathcoole, Co Dublin.
The builder had previously been refused permission by South Dublin County Council because the "quality of the design and layout" and "quality and location of open space" conflict with the local area plan.
It also referred to the "monotonous" building design and "inadequate mix of unit types" and an inadequate provision of childcare in its decision.
In its appeal, JP Molloy Builders argued that the site layout was constrained by the topography and zoning of the site and the orientation of adjacent residential development. Regarding the provision of open space, it argued that the county is well served with regional parks and Rathcoole has a large open space to the east of the village centre. It said that, if the scheme as amended was proposed, it would achieve 19 per cent open space, 5 per cent more than the local development plan requirement. It also submitted that the building design was constrained by height limitations imposed by Casement Aerodrome, and the established character of the surrounding area "which does not allow buildings more than two stories". However, An Bord Pleanála upheld South Dublin County Council's decision.
Drumcondra plan turned down
Graceavon Holdings has been refused permission by An Bord Pleanála to demolish a furniture factory and build a terrace of three-storey houses on the southern bank of the Royal Canal in Drumcondra, Dublin 7.
Thomas Packenham, with an address at St Ignatius Road, submitted an appeal to An Bord Pleanála on behalf of himself and other residents. The grounds for appeal included the height of the development, its proximity to the garden walls of St Ignatius Road houses and an increase in traffic noise and congestion. It also pointed to a lack of car-parking for the proposed development and says the lane which is to provide vehicular access to the site between 23 and 24 St Ignatius Road is not wide enough to accommodate two-way traffic.
An Bord Pleanála ruled against the development because of its scale, height, design and close proximity to the adjacent houses on Saint Ignatius Road and because it would "seriously injure" the amenities of a conservation area.
