Opposition to Glen Abbey build-to rent apartments

Opposition to Glen Abbey build-to rent apartments

By Aideen O'Flaherty

COUNCILLORS who attended the Tallaght Area Committee meeting on Monday afternoon were unanimously against the plans for 170 build-to-rent apartments at the Glen Abbey Complex in Belgard.

The proposed Strategic Housing Development (SHD) includes the demolition of existing industrial buildings, and the construction of nine one-bedroom studio apartments, 94 one-bedroom/two-person apartments, and two two-bedroom/three-person apartments.

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The Glen Abbey site on Belgard Road

Plans for 34 two-bedroom/four-person apartments, 24 two-bedroom/four-person duplex apartments and seven three bedroom/five-person apartments are also included.

The apartments are to be housed across two blocks, with a height of four- to seven-storeys.

Square Foot Property Services Limited submitted the plans to An Bord Pleanála last month, and the proposed development was discussed at Monday’s monthly meeting of the Tallaght Area Committee.

Fianna Fáil councillor for Tallaght Central, Charlie O’Connor, told The Echo: “Every councillor present opposed the development and supported the objections.

“All of us expressed particular sympathy for residents of Colberts Fort, which is one of the oldest estates in Tallaght and would be most impacted [if permission is granted for the development].

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An artist impression of the site

“It will have a big impact on Colberts Fort on many levels, and residents believe they’ll be totally dwarfed by the development.

“The residents have made good objections and I support them.”

Observations objecting to the development were lodged by community groups including the Belgard Area Residents’ Association, Colberts Fort residents and Tallaght Community Council.

The primary issues raised included overdevelopment, the lack of three-bed units, and the impact the development could have on traffic and illegal parking in the locality.

Peter Forde from the Belgard Heights Residents’ Association told The Echo: “Related to the people in Belgard, the Glen Abbey development is not one that’s favoured by people here because it follows a pattern of other developments in the area, in that it’s largely one-bed and two-bed apartments.

“It doesn’t cater for families or a cross-section of the community, like single people, couples, older people and younger people.”

Mr Forde said that density is another concern for people in the locality, both in relation to Glen Abbey and other SHDs in the area.

“There seems to be a policy of building high rise apartments in Tallaght Central, which doesn’t seem to be applied elsewhere in the county,” he added.

The councillors’ observations at the area committee meeting about the development will be included in South Dublin County Council’s Chief Executive’s Report, which will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála for their consideration when making a decision on the plans.

A decision on the planning application is due from An Bord Pleanála by July 29.

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