Tedcastles Yard in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin is to be developed as offices, shops, a leisure centre and an apartment complex, writes Edel Morgan.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has granted permission to developer Stephen MacKenzie to redevelop the site at the junction of Dunleary Road and Dunleary Hill Lower.
This will involve demolishing existing buildings on the site, including a neo-Georgian yellow brick office building which architects Horan Keogan Ryan says is of limited streetscape value. This will be replaced by 985 sq m (10,602 sq ft) of offices in a four-storey block with a maximum parapet height of 18.5 metres with two retail units and 28 basement car-parking spaces. It will also have a 956 sq m (10,290 sq ft) gym, leisure and health centre.
A separate application for a 65-unit apartment scheme was also granted permission.
The proposals attracted a number of local objections - mainly from residents of nearby Clearwater Cove and Salthill Place. Grounds for concern included overshadowing, excessive height and scale, and overlooking.
The architects contend the scheme will be of similar scale and height to existing apartment developments in the area, such as de Vesci house - and will have a slight stepping down in scale to reflect the slope on Dunleary Hill lower.
The apartments will be spacious. One-beds will be 53-56 sq m (570-603 sq ft), two beds will be 66-88 sq m (710-947 sq ft) and three-beds will be 85-118 sq m (915-1,270 sq ft). The apartments will range from five storeys with set back at penthouse level to seven storeys with set back at penthouse level.
