Renewed plans to build apartments at Kestrel Pub site rejected

A RENEWED plan to build apartments at the site of the Kestrel Pub in Walkinstown, has been rejected by An Bord Pleanala.

It is the second time plans for the Walkinstown Roundabout site have been rejected.

Double E Investments, were seeking planning permission for 42 apartments, 16 car parking spaces, 138 bicycle parking spaces and three retail units at ground floor.

The proposal generated many objections from residents, concerned at the lack of car parking spaces, impact on local infrastructure, and height and scale of the development.

In making their decision on May 20, ABP considered the proposed development “would materially contravene the building height provisions” of the Dublin City Development Plan.

With the site located beside an “important telecommunications exchange site”, the Board determined the application “does not include adequate information to demonstrate” retention of “important telecommunication channels”.

Dublin City Council planners previously cited “inadequate provision for servicing and car parking within the site” which they said would “generate overspill parking and servicing activity onto the adjacent heavily trafficked public road network”.

They also said the applicant had not demonstrated that the location can accommodate a car free development without resulting in a negative impact on the surrounding local road network.

Walkinstown Residents Association were among the objectors, citing lack of parking spaces which “will impact unfairly on residents in the immediate area” and an “overbearing nature” of the “height of the development”.

Last year, Double E Investments, were refused planning permission by Dublin City Council, for a development at the site, which included proposals for 52 apartments but no car parking spaces.

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

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