Thumbs down for apartment block on protected site

PLANS for an apartment block on Naas Road have been refused permission by Dublin City Council.

Applicants Joinville Ltd were seeking permission for 19 apartments at Hollybrook House, 55 Naas Road, Dublin 12 – an increase of seven units from a previously permitted planning permission for 12 units at the site, which was granted in 2018.

The site is listed as a Protected Structure.

Joinville Ltd wanted to replace a permitted three-storey block with a four-storey block containing 19 apartments.

In making their decision, Dublin City Council planners said the proposal would have a “detrimental impact” on adjoining residential amenity by reason of “overbearance, loss of privacy”, leading to a “negative impact of the character of the area.”

“The proposed development would seriously injure the amenities of neighbouring occupiers, would depreciate the value of property in the vicinity, and be contrary to zoning objectives and policies of the Dublin City Development plan 2016-22,” they said.

Planners considered a four-storey development to be “over-bearing, excessive, out of scale with regard to the immediate architectural context”, and would represent “significant over-development of this sensitive site.”

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) made a submission to the plans, stating the site is located in close proximity to Luas infrastructure, and said the developer shall be responsible for “any loss of Luas revenue or any other costs associated with a suspension of passenger services, or alterations to the Luas infrastructure which may arise out of, or as a consequence of, the design, construction or the operation of the development.”

TII said the developer is required to apply for a works permit which regulates works occurring close to the Luas infrastructure, and the developer shall be “liable for all of TII’s costs associated with the removal and reinstatement of Luas related building fixings and infrastructure.”