Development at Esmonde Motors site in Stillorgan appealedThe grant of planning permission for an 11-storey residential scheme in Stillorgan has been appealed by a local residents' group. The owners of Esmonde Motors were given permission to build a mixed-use development on a site at The Hill in Stillorgan by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council last month.
The scheme will involve 141 apartments in blocks ranging from three to 11 storeys. It will also incorporate a 38-bed apart-hotel, a restaurant, crèche, pub and retail units. It is beside the Blake's site where Treasury Holdings has permission for a large commercial and apartment development of up to 12 storeys.
The decision to grant permission for the Esmonde Motors scheme has been appealed by Stillorgan District Community and Residential Alliance, an umbrella group representing 23 residents groups in the area. In a letter to An Bord Pleanála, the group said the development, particularly the apart-hotel element, does not facilitate community development.
The current proposal, by way of "excessive height, mass and bulk", would damage the visual amenities of the area, according to the group.
Urging the board to overturn permission, the group argued this would allow time for the implementation of the Stillorgan Local Area Plan, which in turn will ensure the orderly and comprehensive redevelopment of the district centre.
Apartments for service station sites in D8 and Mount Merrion
Plans for the Ashurst Shell service station in Mount Merrion to be turned into apartments are in the pipeline. The owners of the station on the Stillorgan Road have lodged plans with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council seeking to demolish the station and replace it with two apartment blocks ranging in height from three to seven storeys.
Meanwhile, the owner of a Dublin 8 garage has secured permission from Dublin City Council to build 58 apartments.
Michael Gray of Bellevue Motors on the South Circular Road has been given permission to demolish the garage and replace it with two residential blocks of nine and six storeys.
U2 man plans restoration
U2's Adam Clayton is looking for permission to restore the summer house at his Georgian home on the Kellystown Road, Rathfarnham, Co Dublin.
