Kestrel pub’s 52-apartment plan refused permission

PLANS for an apartment complex at the site of the Kestrel Pub at Walkinstown roundabout, with no provision for carparking spaces, has been refused planning permission by Dublin City Council.

Double E Investments, the property arm of Double Property Group, sought to demolish the two-storey Kestrel building and build a part 4, 6, 7 and 8-storey mixeduse development, containing 52 apartments (23 one-bed and 29 two-bed).

According to the plans, no car-parking spaces were planned, due to the site’s proximity to transport links, and provision for 96 bicycle-parking spaces.

A significant amount of objections were lodged by residents concerned that the lack of car-parking spaces would have a negative impact on a local traffic network, and increase pressure for parking spaces on residential roads in the vicinity of the site.

Walkinstown Residents’ Association (WRA) objected to the plans, stating the lack of parking spaces “will impact unfairly on residents in the immediate area.”

The residents’ association also cited concerns in relation to the height and scale of the proposed development, believing it is not in context with the local environs.

“Most of access to development would be from Bunting Road which is already traffic restricted,” said WRA.

Many other residents felt the development would represent “overdevelopment of the site”, citing concerns regarding the height and scale of the proposal and the “additional strain” on water and sewage infrastructure.

An artist’s impression of the proposed plans for the Kestrel

In making a decision to refuse permission for the development, Dublin City Council cited a number of reasons, including “inadequate provision” for carparking which would “generate overspill parking and servicing activity onto the adjacent heavily trafficked public road network, namely Bunting Road, Walkinstown Road, Cromwellsfort Road, and footpaths thereby causing an obstruction to pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles and other road users.”

Planners said the applicant had not demonstrated that the site, located on a heavily trafficked junction and road network, can accommodate a carfree development based on proximity and accessibility criteria “without resulting in a negative impact on the surrounding local road network.”

City planners also said the proposed development “fails to successfully integrate into the existing character of the area”, resulting in a “visually dominant and overbearing form of development when viewed from the public realm.”

The landmark Kestrel pub sold for more than its €1.8m guide price in 2019.

Graham Canning bought the pub in 2004 for a record price of €7.3 million.

It closed in 2010, and the following year, publican Michael McGowan bought the premises for a price believed to be in the region of over €2 million.