Demolition works start on former Gallaher’s site

DEMOLITION workers have moved onto the former Gallaher’s cigarette factory site to make way for the construction of 502 apartments.

The derelict building, on the junction of Greenhills Road and Airton Road, has been the site of anti-social behaviour over the last couple of years.

The site has experienced a number of issues with Dublin Fire Brigade called to put out fires while graffiti appeared all over the front of the main building recently.

The 6.5-acre site has planning permission for 502 apartments and it went on the market quoting €16.5 million in 2021.

Home builder Greenleaf Homes, who developed the Arena Centre in Tallaght in 2008, attained planning permission, following an application to An Bord Pleanála in February 2020 under the Strategic Housing Development system.

A full grant of planning permission was issued by ABP in June 2020 for a scheme consisting of 197 one-beds, 257 two-beds and 48 three-bed apartments, along with 811sq m of retail units, including a 329sq m creche and parking for 202 cars.

The scheme is arranged in six separate blocks and Greenleaf say it is capable of being phased into smaller developments.

Originally built in the 1950s, the Gallaher cigarette factory, maker of well-known brands including Benson & Hedges and Silk Cut, employed over 1,000 people.

It closed in 2003 following a corporate restructuring at European level.

This is the second Strategic Housing Development underway on Airton Road with work already started on the former Cable & Wireless site in May for 328 apartments.