Development proposal for constructing 1,100 apartments on the former Clonliffe College site presented by property builder
In a significant development, Hines, a leading property developer, has submitted a revised planning application for 1,131 apartments at the former seminary site in Drumcondra, Dublin. The new application comes four years after the original plan was lodged and follows the quashing of the initial plan by the High Court.
The key changes in the updated design and revised planning application include a reduction in the number of apartments from 1,590 to 1,131. There is also a change in the mix of apartment types, with fewer studios and more of other types, although specific details about these other types are not provided.
The new scheme will consist of 1,131 apartments across 12 apartment blocks. It will offer a variety of dwelling options, including 268 studios, 282 one-bed apartments, 392 two-bed apartments, 132 three-bed units, and 57 four-bed dwellings.
One of the notable omissions in the new scheme is the previously planned 19-storey residential tower. Additionally, an extension to the seminary building and an underground car park near the formal lawn of the former college have been removed.
The new scheme is less dense than the original proposal and will feature more public space. It also incorporates mobility hubs for bike and car sharing, aiming to promote sustainable transportation.
The revised application does not include a previously planned 19-storey residential tower. The Supreme Court attempt to overturn the High Court decision failed, leading to the new scaled-down Large Scale Residential Development (LRD) plans.
The ultimate decision on the new scheme is likely to be made by An Coimisiún Pleanála, as applicants and third parties can appeal City Council LRD decisions to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Hines prefers to make apartments available for both rental and sale at the site. Government schemes to assist viability for apartment development may play a role in bringing units to the market for sale.
The new application aims to provide a more balanced and varied mix of apartment types, catering to a wider range of housing needs in the area. Further information from the planning application documents would be necessary for a more detailed understanding of the architectural or design changes in the new scheme.
The revised planning application by Hines for the former seminary site includes a reduction in the number of apartments, shifting from a focus on studios to more diverse types. The new scheme, without the previously planned 19-story residential tower, aims for a more balanced mix, focusing on both rental and sale units, potentially supported by government schemes in the real-estate sector.
