New plans to build apartments and townhouses on The Ranch

REVISED plans lodged with Dublin City Council, are seeking permission to build apartments and townhouses at a former builder’s yard at The Ranch in Inchicore.

Applicant Tom Corcoran submitted the plans in December, which contain proposals for the demolition of all existing single-storey structures on site and the construction of a four/five-storey apartment block.

The apartment block contains provision for 10 apartments (9 two-bed and 1 three-bed) and there is also provision for three-storey townhouses (2 three-bed and 1 two-bed) with “associated off-street car parking, landscaping and new boundary treatments.”

In January 2023, Mr Corcoran submitted plans for the site, containing proposals for 13 apartments and three townhouses.

However, this was refused by the city council planners, who cited concerns on the scale, height and design of the proposal.

In the latest plans, architect Peter Keenahan, on behalf of the applicant, say they have carried out a full review following the decision for refusal by DCC.

The architect’s report says the “principal change is a reduction in the height of the proposed apartment block by one storey” which reduces three apartments, and that this also increases space available for storage areas and “increases the ratio of off-street parking.”

The Liffey Street South site was previously granted planning permission for a redevelopment comprising eight two-bed townhouses, a permission which was due to expire in March, 2023.

According to a cover letter submitted with the plans 12 months ago, the area known as The Ranch was developed in the late 19th century as a dense enclave of artisan housing on the then open fields at the rear of Inchicore House, since demolished.

The original housing was predominately single-storey on the cross streets between the access streets of St Mary’s Avenue in the east and First Avenue in the west with the latter being developed as two-storey terraces.