Contentious Parsons Court apartment plans appealed by Andrew McGinley

ANDREW McGinley has lodged an appeal against South Dublin County Council’s decision to grant permission for the construction of two apartment blocks in Parsons Court, Newcastle.

Mr McGinley’s children Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla (3) died tragically in their family home in Parsons Court in January last year.

The contentious planning application for the two three-storey apartment blocks – reducing to two-storey end of terrace – to house a total of nine apartments, was lodged by developer Ronview Ltd last November.

The first apartment block is to contain four three-bed duplex apartments with private rear gardens at ground level, and two three-bed apartments at second floor level with private balconies.

The second block is to house two three-bed duplex apartments with private rear gardens at ground level, and one three-bed apartment at second floor level with private balcony.

Provision of new pedestrian access between Parson’s Court and Burgage Green and all ancillary site development works is included in the plans.

Andrew McGinley

The planning application attracted 30 submissions where issues about the “over-the-top” scale of the proposed development, the potential for parking and traffic issues, anti-social behaviour and the impact on the quality of life of the existing residents were raised.

South Dublin County Council granted permission for the development on July 6, however Mr McGinley lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála this month, seeking to overturn the council’s decision.

The appeal, which was lodged by O’Neill Town Planning on behalf of Mr McGinley, states that Mr McGinley and his neighbours’ primary concerns centre around “the loss of car parking spaces for the existing residents and the future use of the public open spaces” in Parsons Court.

According to the appellant, 15 existing car parking spaces are to be allocated to the new development, however nine of these spaces have already been allocated to existing units – residents have had the use of these car parking spaces for over ten years.

The car parking spaces, open spaces and bin stores are controlled by the estate’s management company, which is made up of residents, and they added that Ronview has “no control or legal interest in the car parking spaces they are proposing to serve the subject development”.

Other concerns include the view that the development’s appearance and layout will “contribute to a disjointed and overbearing appearance”, that it would “seriously injure” the residential amenity of adjoining dwellings, and would constitute a development of “excessive scale and density”.

A decision on the appeal has not yet been made by ABP.