Plans by Glenveagh Homes for an apartment scheme in Howth in Dublin have met a slew of objections from local residents.
The Howth/Sutton Community Council, Hillwatch and other locals have all lodged objections against plans by builders, Glenveagh to construct a €60 million, 135-unit apartment scheme for a site adjoining Howth Demesne, Deer Park, at Howth in north Co Dublin.
In the large-scale residential development (LRD) application lodged with Fingal County Council, Glenveagh subsidiary GLL PRS Holdco Limited is seeking to build the apartments in four blocks ranging from three to five storeys in height.
The scheme for the 3.8-acre site is made up of 72 two-bedroom units and 63 one-bedroom units.
A planning report lodged with the application states that the proposed development “promotes the delivery of sustainable residential development on a greenfield site which will facilitate increased housing supply and choice along Howth Road and its environs”.
However, in her objection, Maria Doyle of Balkill Park, Howth, contended that if the scheme proceeded, “I feel that the character and uniqueness of Howth will be further diluted”.
It was very disillusioning for concerned Howth locals to be constantly writing objections against high-density apartment schemes “that are not in keeping with what is the essence of Howth, which is old world and beautiful,” she wrote. “This is a high-density project that would mark another negative shift in the visual and historical character of Howth.”
“It is like the powers that be are not listening or more importantly not caring. It is depressing to enter into Howth now and see huge ugly brutalist apartment blocks that are more suited to a dystopian cityscape than a coastal town like Howth,” Ms Doyle added.
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In its objection, the Howth/Sutton Community Council claimed that the apartment scheme would destroy the visual impact of the architectural conservation area of Howth Castle.
Community council chairman Andrew J Smith argued that “the siting of 135 apartments on this site next to a castle of great historic interest is totally inappropriate”.
Mr Smith pointed to other housing and apartment plans for Howth, stating that along with the scheme before the council, a cumulative 925 were proposed.
On behalf of Hillwatch, Jacqueline Feeley told the council that the scheme did not address the shortage of affordable family homes in Dublin, and would not contribute to the sustainable long-term development of Howth’s community.
Ms Feeley further stated “more small apartments, possibly for rent, are not what Howth needs”.
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