Apartment plans get green light in village
By Aideen O'Flaherty
PLANS for the demolition of Bruce House in Tallaght Village in order to facilitate the construction of a five-storey mixed use building have been given the green light by South Dublin County Council, despite attracting two third-party objections.
Bruce House, which is the site of the old Bank of Ireland, had previously been used by the charity Threshold as a training centre before they moved to a new premises last month.
Plans have been approved for the development of 31 apartments at Bruce House
The development plans were lodged by Irish Residential Properties REIT Plc last July, outlining plans for the construction of a four-storey building to house one retail unit and 31 apartment units.
The Bancroft Residents’ Association lodged an objection to the plans last month, citing concerns about the impact the development could have on traffic in the area, and also suggesting that the development should instead consist of one- and two-storey social housing.
Tallaght Community Council (TCC) also lodged an objection to the plans, stating that the development would “not allow for a mix of ownership” as the apartments are to be owned by IRES REIT, and that this would lead to first-time buyers and local older people who would like to downsize having “no opportunity to become a part of this community”.
TCC suggested that plans for the residential development on the site of Bruce House should instead be replaced by the development of ten three-bed apartments and ten four-bed apartments, while the ground floor should be used for “a commercial or community venue”.
The council granted permission for the development on Tuesday, August 28, with a number of conditions.
Number of conditions
These conditions include requiring the applicant to submit details of two proposed on-street car parking spaces and proposed on-street bicycle stands, which are to be agreed with the council’s road department.
The applicant will also have to submit a play space design rationale and a landscape design rationale, while an archaeological assessment of the site will have to be carried out by a “suitably qualified archaeologist”, according to the council.
IRES also has two other planning applications lodged with the council, one which concerns Block 1 of Priorsgate, where permission is being sought for the change of use of the permitted vacant crèche unit and ancillary external open space, to instead provide for one two-bedroom apartment and one three-bedroom apartment.
The second application is centred on Block 2 of Priorsgate, where the applicant is seeking permission for the subdivision and change of use of the permitted vacant restaurant unit at ground-floor level.
The council has requested additional information in relation to both of these applications.
