Developers Bartra are contesting a planning refusal by Fingal County Council for contentious plans for a €30 million apartment scheme on Dublin’s Old Navan Road.
Bartra Property (Castleknock) Ltd lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála against the decision which relates to a five storey, 56 apartment scheme.
The council’s decision to refuse planning followed its receipt of 75 objections to the proposal for the Brady’s Public House site in Dublin 15.
One of the objectors was Castleknock resident Barry O’Lone who last year turned down a €100,000 offer from Bartra to withdraw a High Court challenge against a 210 bedspace co-living scheme for the same site opposite his family home.
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The co-living scheme did not proceed. Last May, Bartra lodged plans for the apartment scheme at the site.
As part of his objection, Mr O’Lone repeated the allegation he was previously offered €100,000 by Bartra in April 2023 to withdraw the High Court judicial review against the co-living scheme. Bartra has been approached for comment.
In its refusal Fingal County Council concluded the proposed building was “monolithic in scale” and would seriously injure the amenities of the area and of property in the vicinity.
The council also refused planning permission after concluding the scheme could lead to a conflict between pedestrians and road users and would fail to protect the residential amenity of the surrounding area.
Thornton O’Connor Town Planning, in the Bartra appeal, states there are not many better sites in the city that have the capacity for increased height and density.
The planning consultants said the height, scale and massing of the proposal was very similar to the building already permitted on the site.
Director Patricia Thornton said that the scheme cannot be considered overbearing, over-scaled or causing material overlooking. She said it has been carefully crafted to the highest architectural standards and that the issue of the provision of on-street parking can be overcome with parking controls.
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