‘Illegal development’ studio apartments available for rent
By Maurice Garvey
STUDIO apartments in Bluebell are available to rent on Daft.ie despite the properties being subject to an enforcement order from Dublin City Council.
In November 2017, DCC served an enforcement order in respect of unauthorised development at 80/82 Naas Road – ordering the properties be restored to their previous condition.
The property on the Naas Road at Bluebell
After an inspection in April, DCC said the enforcement order has not been complied with, and legal proceedings were initiated.
The two properties at 80/82 Naas Road were condemned as an “illegal development” by councillors at an area meeting in April.
In March, Thomas Horan, a local developer, submitted a retention application for the properties.
This was refused permission by city planners, who said it would “contravene conditions attached to an existing permission for development” and “be seriously injurious to residential amenity and contrary to the proper planning.”
Residents whom The Echo have spoken to say work has continued on the site over the last month, with people “queueing up” to view studio apartments, which are advertised online “from €260 per week.”
Demolition site
“The place is like a demolition site,” said one resident.
Neighbours previously told The Echo works take place at the site outside of normal working hours, at weekends, on bank holidays, and a major concern is that the two houses will be ‘turned into a hotel.”
Bluebell Residents Association objected to the retention application in April, stating they were “horrified at a blatant disregard for planning laws demonstrated by the developer.”
“The site owner has demolished two habitable properties and replaced them with a structure, which will contain at least 11 bedsit-style apartments,” said the group.
Cllr Daithí Doolan blamed a lack of teeth in planning legislation.
“We need robust legislation or we will be back to the level of corruption like we had in the 1980s. Interestingly they stripped councillors of powers, and have given it to management and developers who are riding roughshod over planning legislation.”
Cllr Hand, who brought the matter to the area meeting in April, feels the situation will require an amendment to the existing legislation, and said he will be asking Joan Collins TD to forward a parliamentary question.
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