Tolka River plans among last of BTR schemes

Plans for 10-storey build-to-rent scheme of 183 apartments beside the Tolka River in Drumcondra, have been presented to Dublin City Council.

The scheme on Richmond Road by Birkey Limited is expected to be among the last build-to-rent applications submitted directly to An Bord Pleanála under the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) system.

The system, under which applications were made to An Bord Pleanála, will lapse from February 25th and be replaced by the large scale residential development (LRD) process, where applications are made to city and county councils.

Transitional arrangements will be in place for developers who had already begun the pre-application stage of SHD process before December 17th last.

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Local Fianna Fail councillor Deirdre Heney asked that the council write to An Bord Pleanála asking it to take the council's proposed build-to-rent (BTR) changes into account when assessing the Richmond Road scheme.

Proposed policy change

The council plans to restrict the number of rental-only apartments in BTR developments and to limit the number small apartments. The Richmond Road complex would have 104 one-bedroom and 79 two-bedroom apartments.

DCC planner Shane Healy said the council could note the proposed policy change in its submission to the board, but could "not compel a development to reduce the number of build to rent".

Mr Healy said he shared councillors’ concerns in relation to the height and lack of three-bedroom apartments in the complex but this application would have to assessed under current “national guidelines on height and unit mix”.

Another build-to-rent application, of 162 apartments up to 13 storeys on Prussia Street beside Grangegorman in Dublin 7, will be presented to councillors on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, opposition is mounting to a recent BTR application in south east Dublin, with more than 800 residents signing a petition against the Glenageary Gate SHD of 147 apartments in blocks up to nine storeys tall.