Changing face of Airton Road
By Aideen O'Flaherty
THE landscape of Airton Road looks set to undergo significant changes in the coming months and years, as the area has been earmarked for a number of sizeable residential developments.
Once a centre of employment that was home to several factories, a number of which went into decline during the recession, recent planning applications for the area suggest that the portion of Airton Road that adjoins the Greenhills Road is now tilting towards residential uses.
An artist’s impression of the plans for Airton House, which will be turned into a family hub
The most recent residential development on Airton Road to secure planning permission was Power Scaffolding Supplies Ltd plans for the construction of 328 apartments at the former Cable and Wireless site on the corner of Airton Road and the Belgard Road, which are to be housed across two apartment blocks.
The plans were given the greenlight by An Bord Pleanála, who assessed the application for the strategic housing development through their fast-track system, before ultimately granting permission.
Last December, South Dublin County Council lodged a report about the plans, where they expressed reservations about the development as aspects of it “materially contravene” South Dublin County Council’s Development Plan 2016-2022 and the Tallaght Draft Local Area Plan 2020-2026.
The local authority stated in the report that they are concerned that the development’s “lack of setback” would hamper the plans in the Draft LAP for a linear park at Airton Road, and that some north-facing units in the development are “not acceptable” to the council.
Further along Airton Road, in a separate planning application by Killart Limited, a two-storey building which was formerly used as offices by bookmakers Paddy Power is to be transformed into a family hub.
Former head office of Paddy Power
Permission for the change of use of the offices was granted last month, and will see the building being changed to facilitate 38 residential units, with 16 units at ground-floor level and 22 units at first-floor level, and communal kitchen facilities, storage space, family rooms and internal play spaces.
An application for the development of 502 apartments at the former Gallaher’s site at the junction of Airton Road and the Belgard Road is currently under consideration by An Bord Pleanála, as it has been submitted by Greenleaf Homes Limited under ABP fast-track system, with a decision due in June.
Airton Road features in South Dublin County Council’s Draft Tallaght LAP in the Broomhill and Greenhills section.
It has been earmarked for “emerging residential uses along primary frontages”, and the overall area of Broomhill and Greenhills is to be “predominantly business with more mixed-use residential” uses, according to the Draft LAP.
