Property company Oakmount, headed by serial developers Paddy McKillen jnr and Matt Ryan, has been granted planning permission on appeal to redevelop the Union Cafe site at Mount Merrion, Co Dublin.
It has been nearly two years since the company first applied to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for planning on the site for a large five storey mixed-use scheme, triggering the most contested planning application in the local council area that year, with nearly 340 objections lodged against the plans.
Following its rejection, last November, Oakmount lodged scaled-back plans for the scheme, removing retail and gym elements previously proposed while retaining 50 apartments over four storeys and a three-storey pub/ restaurant to be operated by McKillen and Ryan's ever-expanding Press Up Group.
The hospitality element is likely to retain the name of the establishments being demolished – Kennedy’s Pub and Union Cafe – and will feature outdoor terraces, and parking at basement level.
The apartment scheme will comprise 11 one-beds (51sq m-77.5sqm), 30 two-beds (80sq m-92sq m) and 9 three-beds (112sq m-148sq m).
Separate planning has also been approved for 48 apartments at the adjoining Flanagans site, which should provide ample accommodation options for locals hoping to downsize from large houses in the area.
Despite scaled-back nature of Oakmount’s plans lodged last November, around 80 objections were received by the council, leading the council to request further information from Oakmount on a number of potential issues raised by appellants to the scheme.
These included the developer’s legal interest in a part of the site and the potential noise that may arise from the new pub/ restaurant offering.
Oakmount submitted clarifications, resulting in this week’s decision to grant permission.
