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An Bord Pleanála has approved a plan for a 725-unit apartment complex in blocks up to 14 stories high for Ashtown in Dublin.
The ‘Rathborne’ proposal from a company operated by developer Joe O’Reilly more than doubles the number of apartments allowed in a permit issued four years ago for the site along the Royal Canal.
Ruirside Development’s application went to the planning board as a Strategic Housing Development, bypassing Dublin City Council.
Council planners made a presentation recommending a rejection due to height, density, and effect on residential amenities.
An Bord Pleanála said the scheme could contravene the Dublin City Development Plan, but pointed to height and density guidelines introduced by the government in 2018 that may override local authorities’ plans.
He said the site near the Ashtown train station “is considered to be of strategic and national importance.”
The planning board also stated that the plan “would constitute an acceptable amount and density of development in this accessible urban location, would not seriously damage the residential or visual amenities of the area, would be acceptable in terms of urban design, height, and amount of development” .
The plan is for six apartment blocks, two with 14 floors, two with 12 floors, and two with six and seven floors.
The vast majority of the units will be one- and two-bed, with only 16 three-bed units in the complex.
Developer Joe O’Reilly is reported to have bought the site from Capel Developments for around € 22 million last year after selling it to the same company for more than € 70 million in 2006.
Capel Developments went into suspension of payments before prior permission was granted for the site involving 296 apartments in three blocks up to six floors.
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