170 build-to-rent apartments are approved at Glen Abbey Complex
A STRATEGIC Housing Development consisting of 170 build-to-rent apartments has been granted permission by An Bord Pleanála.
Square Foot Property Services Limited have been given the green light to demolish existing buildings at Glen Abbey Complex, Belgard Road, Cookstown Industrial Estate.
This will be to make way for the construction of 170 private build-to-rent apartments, a creche and associated site works in its place.
The apartment units and creche are to be arranged in two blocks across four to seven-storeys over a basement carpark.
Plans consist of nine one-bedroom studio apartments, 94 one-bedroom apartments, 60 two-bedroom apartments and seven three-bedroom apartments.
Internal communal amenity spaces will be at ground floor and fourth floor comprising of a reception, gym, lounge, cinema/tv room, events rooms and ancillary areas (totalling around 508sq.m).
Externally, there is communal open space which include children’s play areas and informal amenity spaces between Blocks A and B – there will also be a communal roof garden at fourth floor.
The creche comes to around 163sq.m and will have an associated outdoor play area (around 75sq.m).
354 bicycle spaces and 73 car parking spaces are included in the development along with the reconfiguration of an existing car park and access road to the north of the site to result in 28 car parking spaces.
Vehicular and pedestrian access to the site will be from the Belgard Road with existing entrances maintained.
The location lands are zoned REGEN, which is to facilitate enterprise and/or residential-led regeneration.
In coming to its decision to grant permission, An Bord Pleanála (ABP) acknowledged that it would not materially contravene South Dublin County Development Plan 2016-2020 or the Tallaght Town Centre Local Area Plan (LAP) 2020.
However, the plans do contravene the LAP in relation to building height limits and ABP believes that it “would be justified” and “would not set an undesirable precedent for further development” in the area.
The inspector recommended refusal for several reasons which included that the plans deviated from the minimum room sizes and widths as outlined in the Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments guidelines.
In ABP’s decision to grant permission, making amendments across all of the apartments to reach the “minimum standards” as one of 23 conditions.
Prior to the commencement of development, the developer Square Foot Property Services Ltd are required to submit details pertaining to the running of the build-to-rent scheme for a period of no less than 15 years.
Proposals for an estate and street name are to be provided to planning authority prior to any works on site.
A minimum of 10 percent of all car parking spaces are to be equipped with electric vehicle (EV) charging points to “future proof the development”.
An Bord Pleanála gave the green light for the development on September 21, 2021.
