Foxrock to get 114 new homes

Developer gets go-ahead to build luxury homes on Brighton Road - and offers to build social and affordable housing elsewhere

FOXROCK is to get another development of luxury homes following a decision by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to grant permission for 33 houses and 81 apartments on Brighton Road.

Joe O'Reilly's Castlethorn Construction has been granted permission to build the scheme on a 12.3-acre site backing onto Leopardstown Racecourse. The developer has offered to build an affordable housing scheme on another site in Foxrock in part fulfilment of its social housing obligations.

The developer had originally proposed to build 49 large detached houses, but revised this to a mix of houses and apartments.

The proposed scheme hit the headlines last year when it emerged that the developer was offering to build 63 social and affordable homes at another development in Belarmine, Stepaside, in fulfilment of its obligations under Under Part V of the Planning and Development Act.

Under this regulation, developers are obliged to provide 20 per cent of any development for social and affordable housing. Developers can, however, negotiation cash or land in lieu of this obligation.

The offer prompted criticism from residents in Belarmine who objected to Castlethorn's bid to move its social housing obligation off site.

In a detailed proposal submitted to the council in June, Castlethorn has now offered to make 30 affordable apartments available at Belarmine and build a further 10 to 12 units on a different site in Foxrock in fulfilment of its social and affordable obligation.

If the construction of these social units is not possible prior to the completion or occupation of the Brighton Road scheme, Castlethorn has promised to make units at Brighton Road available.

This, according to the developer, would involve a substantially greater number of Part V units in Stepaside and Foxrock than could be achieved for the same cost on site at Brighton Road.

The developer also argued that the provision of Part V units on the Brighton Road site would "reinforce social segregation rather than counteract it, particularly if the Part V units are not developed to the same standard in terms of built form, finishes and landscaping detail".

A spokesperson for the council confirmed that the proposals have been agreed to in principle by the council, subject to finalised negotiations which will take into account land values, unit cost and suitability of the second site in Foxrock.

• Meanwhile, another developer, Urban Two Ltd Partnership, has lodged planning permission for another residential scheme in Foxrock.

The developer is looking to demolish Springfield House and and 4 Springfield Park to make way for 19 apartments in four blocks. Last January the developer was refused permission for a slightly larger scheme on the site.