Limo firm in talks to build 1,156 apartments
By Aideen O'Flaherty
THE owner of a local limo hire company has entered into pre-planning consultation talks with An Bord Pleanála (ABP) about plans for the construction of 1,156 apartments in Cookstown Industrial Estate.
Joseph Costello Absolute Limousines Ltd, which is based in the industrial estate at 81 Cookstown Avenue, lodged the plans for a consultation with ABP earlier this month.
1,156 apartments are planned for Cookstown Industrial Estate
The proposed development has been described by the applicant as a Strategic Housing Development (SHD), which means that developers who are planning to construct substantial residential developments in the form of SHDs can apply directly to ABP under the fast-track system.
As part of the SHD system, developers have to enter into a pre-planning consultation with the local authority, which in this case is South Dublin County Council, ahead of lodging the plans for planning permission from ABP.
In the consultation application, Joseph Costello Absolute Limousines Ltd gave a brief outline of their plans for the site at lands west of Old Belgard Road and north, south and west of Cookstown Road in Cookstown Industrial Estate.
The plans include the demolition of existing buildings, to make way for the development of 1,156 apartments, a crèche and associated site works, and a decision on whether the plans can be lodged through the SHD fast-track system will be made by ABP by March 16.
Cookstown Industrial Estate and surrounding areas are set to undergo major changes as a number of sizeable residential developments in the locality have received planning permission, showing a tilt towards residential uses in the industrial estate.
Area planned for the development
Planning permission was granted to developer Pyrmont Property Developments Limited in 2018 for the construction of a 107-apartment unit development on Second Avenue in the industrial estate.
The same developer also received planning permission for a separate 196-unit residential development last July, also to be located on Second Avenue.
Property developer Marlet received permission for a substantial residential development nearby on the Belgard Road, to consist of 438 apartments, a 403 bed-space student accommodation scheme and a new urban quarter.
Construction of a new link road from Belgard Square North to Cookstown Industrial Estate began last month, and the link road will likely service these future residential developments, with the council stating that, at the time of the beginning of the construction of the road, the road is “essential to facilitate the future development of the Cookstown area”.
