400 new homes approved by ABP for Newcastle site
By Brendan Grehan
CAIRN Homes has been granted planning permission for over 400 homes in Newcastle. An Bord Pleanála (ABP) gave the green light to Cairn Homes for the development which was under the fast-track planning system.
The development will comprise 36 apartments, 36 duplexes and 248 houses on the main site, with 50 other units comprising six one-bed apartments, 20 two-bed apartments, 12 two-bed apartments and 12 three-bed duplexes on three smaller sites at the corner of Burgage Street and Newcastle Boulevard.
An artist’s impression of some of the homes for the Newcastle site
An Bord Pleanála ruled that 26 houses, part of the original application, should be omitted from the scheme and be developed as a public open space with the retention of the existing heritage hedgerow at the location.
The reason ABP gave was that it was “in the interest of cultural heritage and landscape”.
The development will also include a crèche, a commercial unit, a public park and a site will be reserved for a school.
ABP’s own inspector had recom-mended permission for the development be refused on the grounds of its adverse impact on biodiversity due to the removal of two large sections of 700-year-old hedgerows as well as its negative impact on landscape and views.
ABP said the proposed development was “acceptable in terms of design concept” and “adequately integrates the historic burgage plots/ hedgerows into the layout of the scheme”.
They said it “establishes a sense of place with variety and distinctiveness reflective of the village of Newcastle and provides an appropriate level of residential amenity for future occupants”.
They said the mix of housing units of varying sizes catered for an appropriate range of housing needs.
South Dublin County Council had also recommended that planning permission should be given for the development.
