Planning permission has been granted for a controversial mixed-use development in Howth, Co Dublin, involving 200 residential properties, 487 car parking spaces and a number of commercial units.
Locals fear the development would cause severe traffic congestion on routes to and from the popular fishing village, especially at Sutton Cross, and say it amounts to overdevelopment.
The proposal is a scaled-down version of a previously approved application for 249 apartments on the Techrete and Teeling Motors sites near the Dart station on Howth Road. It was submitted to Fingal County Council last August by Grant Thornton, as receivers of Ray Grehan’s Glenkerrin Homes.
The development will involve demolishing the existing industrial/commercial buildings on the 4.4 hectare site and building five apartment blocks containing 145 apartments as well as 51 three to four-bed houses. Four additional houses will be provided for Traveller accommodation.
The proposal includes six commercial units (retail, restaurants/cafes, gym) as well as a community centre comprising a sports hall, changing rooms, meeting rooms, coffee shop, gym/studio, creche in addition to ancillary areas and outdoor sports facilities.
Building heights range from one to six storeys. There will be 487 parking spaces of which 390 are underground.
Concerns
Social Democrats councillor Cian O’Callaghan said the decision would probably be appealed to An Bord Pleanála over concerns about its size.
“It’s obviously positive that an application was in for a reduced scheme compared to the previous planning permission, but a lot of residents would feel that it could go further,” he said. “The impact it’s going to have on Howth is still going to be excessive.”
Fingal County Council received about 100 submissions on the proposal, most of which opposed the development. Concerns were also expressed over the council permitting Beltray Park, a public amenity, to be included as part of the developer’s application. “Beltray Park is a public park and permission should not have been given to build on it. The park belongs to the public,” read one objection.
Independent Senator Averil Power said locals wanted to see the dilapidated site developed but not at the proposed scale. “There is huge concern within the local community at the scale of the approved development,” she said.
A spokeswoman for Grant Thornton said the receivers would not be commenting on the proposed development.
