Developer lodges appeal against decision to refuse development

A DEVELOPER has lodged an appeal against South Dublin County Council’s decision to refuse permission for their plans for a 119-unit residential development on Stocking Lane in Rathfarnham.

Rycroft SLR Ltd’s proposal included the demolition of an existing detached house called St Winnow’s and development of residential units ranging from two- to four-storeys-high.

The proposal was for the development of 68 houses, 39 apartments, eight duplexes and four maisonettes on former St Winnow’s site and surrounding land.

They were to consist of 33 one- bedroom units, 50 two-bed units, 28 three-bed units and eight four-bed units.

Open space was proposed in the form of four public open space areas of approximately 3.936 sq.m and residential communal open spaces of approximately 386 sq.m, including a playground.

Each proposed residential unit had associated private open space in the form of a garden, balcony or terrace.

The development was to be served via a new vehicular access point from Stocking Lane and the existing entrance to St Winnow’s was to be closed.

A total of 125 car parking spaces, to include two accessible parking spaces, one Driveyou car sharing space, and six EV charging spaces formed part of the proposal.

On February 23 last, the council refused planning permission citing the “poor” overall layout and design of the development.

“[The proposal] fails to make the most of the existing green infrastructure and the ecosystem services it provides, as well as the amenity potential of the site,” stated the council.

“More particularly, the open space layout and the siting of existing green infrastructure within private rear gardens, loss of green infrastructure, failure to meet the Green Space Factor score, inadequate provision of nature-based SUDS amount to a poor layout and design.”

On March 26, Rycroft SLR submitted an appeal to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) seeking to overturn the council’s decision.

The developer submitted documents for the consideration of ABP including a water main layout plan, a landscape plan and green infrastructure documents.

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