Development alterations refused permission by An Bord Pleanála
By Aideen O'Flaherty
ALTERATIONS to an approved residential development in Cookstown have been refused permission by An Bord Pleanála, as they would “significantly deteriorate” the design quality of the development.
Developer Pyrmont Properties received planning permission for a 196-unit residential development at Units 5A-C on Second Avenue in Cookstown Industrial Estate last year, via the ABP fast-track planning permission system.
An artist’s impression of the residential apartments on Second Avenue in Cookstown
Permission was granted for the demolition of an existing 2,590 sq m industrial building and the construction of a build-to-rent housing development, providing a total of 196 residential apartments.
It is proposed that the development will contain 45 studio units, 48 one-bed units, eight two-bed (three-person) and 95 two-bed (four-person) units, all to be housed in four six- to nine-storey blocks over basement.
Provision for a commercial unit, an office unit, a crèche, a gym, six community spaces, a communal hot-desk room, three communal storage areas, a landscaped courtyard, 408 bicycle spaces and a 67-space underground car park is included in the plans.
QRD Development Co lodged a planning application with ABP about the approved 196-unit development last May, seeking alterations to internal layouts, the omission of a basement level, and the relocation of the car park and associated site works.
ABP refused permission for the alterations last month, citing concerns that they would “significantly deteriorate” the design quality of the permitted development, that it would lead to a reduction in internal private amenity space, and that alteration to the outdoor amenity area for the crèche would result in “an unacceptable environment”.
Pyrmont – which submitted the initial planning application for the residential development – received planning permission from South Dublin County Council in February 2018 for the construction of a separate development of 107 apartment units at Second Avenue in Cookstown, a decision which was upheld by ABP after local residents lodged an appeal against the plans.
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