Ciarán and Colum Butler have got the go-ahead from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to replace the Stillorgan Bowl Leisureplex with a residential development including a 15-storey tower.
The scheme incorporates 314 apartments, a library, commercial and retail space, and a new Leisureplex and gym in 15 blocks. The 1.59-hectare site, bounded by Lower Kilmacud Road, the N11, Old Dublin Road and St Laurence's Park, includes some council-owned land, which is the subject of a sale agreement between the developers and the council.
Stillorgan Enterprises has been given permission to demolish all buildings on-site, including 18 local authority houses (62-79 St Laurence's Park). The plan prompted local opposition and 61 objections - including submissions from An Taisce, 18 residents associations and the Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mr Brennan - were received by the council. The site is located across the road from the Blake's site, home to Bondi Beach nightclub, where Treasury Holdings was given the go-ahead for a 215-apartment development, including a 12-storey block, last month.
In granting permission, subject to 38 conditions, the council described the development as a "well-designed" and "well proportioned" scheme, which provided "much needed" residential, commercial and social facilities for the area. Conceding that the 15-storey element will have a "significant visual impact", the council stated that a high building at this location would "create an interesting gateway" into Stillorgan, particularly when taken in conjunction with the development on the Blake's site.
"The height of the building is not high by international standards and higher density taller buildings within existing developed areas should be encouraged in the right locations to reduce the need to further develop greenfield sites on the fringes of the city, which is environmentally unsustainable. Stillorgan is in need of regeneration and it is considered that a development of this quality and prestige would have a significant positive influence on the redevelopment of Stillorgan and improvements to its public domain," the report stated.
The council specified that car-parking and traffic management plans should be agreed with the council. Given the level of opposition to the scheme it is likely that it will be appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
