Durkan secures green light for €60m apartment scheme in Crumlin

An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission to fast-track plans for a €60 million apartment block complex on the site of the former Eason's warehouse in Crumlin in south Dublin.

The appeals board has granted planning permission to builders Durkan for 282 apartments in four blocks from four to 10 storeys in height at Brickfield House, Brickfield Drive, Crumlin.

The scheme is made up of 126 one-bed units, 155 two-bed units and one studio. Twenty eight of the units are to be sold to Dublin City Council for social housing for an undisclosed sum.

The board has granted permission to Durkan (Brickfield Drive) Ltd for the scheme for the site 3km south of Dublin city centre despite strong local opposition and concerns expressed by members of Dublin City Council.

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Thirty one submissions were lodged with the board concerning the scheme including some from local residents’ associations.

Elected members of Dublin City Council voiced concern, though city council planners recommended that permission be granted.

Councillors said the cumulative impacts of housing in the area amounting to 1,500 units was a concern due to the lack of local area plan.

They also argued that the absence of three-bedroom apartments in the scheme was “alarming” and, as such, wouldn’t serve local families.

Design

Locals objected under a range of headings including design, building heights, local amenities, traffic, transport and supporting infrastructure.

However, consultants for Durkan Investments, Brock McClure, said the proximity of the site to public transport and local amenities showed it was suitable for higher residential density and additional heights in compliance with national planning policy.

Brock McClure said the residential units proposed were “of exceptional quality” and that “careful attention has been given to the protection of the existing levels of amenity afforded to the surrounding properties in the design of the scheme”.

The board granted planning permission after the inspector in the case, Colm McLoughlin, said the proposed development “would provide a quality addition to the streetscape that would not unduly dominate or undermine the wider character of the area and the scale of the proposal can be absorbed as a local neighbourhood”.