Backing for 2,180 homes in Dublin suburb

A proposal to build 2,180 new homes on a 90-acre site in the north Dublin suburb of Balgriffin has been approved by Dublin City Council.

The permission, granted this week to Shannon Homes is part of a major 7,000 new housing development in the Balgriffin/Baldoyle area which will eventually house a population of more than 20,000 people.

The Dublin division of Shannon Homes, one of the city's largest home-building firms, bought its 90-acre site as part of a 152-acre site from Bovale Developments in November 2000.

Bovale had owned the site and an adjoining farm in Balgriffin for the previous 14 years. Both parcels of land form part of 490 acres on the "north fringe" which were rezoned by the then Dublin Corporation in its 1999 development plan.

A number of property developers including Shannon Homes, Gannon Homes and Manor Park Homes and the city council itself are also landowners in the north fringe area. An area action plan drawn up by the city council envisaged a new town centre, commercial and retail development and a new railway station.

The city council will provide access to new mains drainage which has recently been put in place to facilitate development of the lands.

This week's approval granted to Shannon Homes is for a 90-acre site with the Malahide Road at its western boundary; the Mayne River to the north; the Grange Road Extension to the south and the Hole in the Wall road to the east.

The new homes are to be provided in a range of houses, duplex units and apartments rising to six storeys.

Included in the proposal is permission for a 1,052 square metre retail, commercial and community uses complex involving an eight-storey tower feature at the proposed new town centre.

The permission also lists six reserved sites for childcare facilities; two public houses; 10 shops; one foodstore; a post office; health centre; surgery; community centre; pharmacy; off-licence and hot food take-away.

A 1.5 acre site directly north of the roundabout on the Grange Road Extension has been reserved for a primary school.

A central east to west "boulevard" will function as a quality bus corridor from Grange Road Extension linking ultimately through Father Collins Park to a new rail station to be provided by other developers north of Grange Road in Donaghmede.

According to the developers "active and passive open space" will be provided in the form of small landscaped spaces within the housing area, including a town square and a linear park along the Mayne River.

The Father Collins public park, which forms the centre-piece of the north fringe, is to be redesigned and enhanced with improved sports and recreational facilities.

Shannon Homes' 152 acres was bought from Bovale for €57.15m in November 2000. Bovale is controlled by brothers Michael and Tom Bailey who figured at the Mahon (formerly Flood) Tribunal into land rezoning.

The 90 acres granted planning permission this week represents almost two-thirds of this land. Smaller parts have already been granted planning permission, including a site for 600 homes about one year ago. Shannon Homes previously obtained permission for apartments and houses at Balgriffin Park House.