RHA gets permission for refurb

Watch this Space:The Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) at 15 Ely Place, Dublin 2 has been granted planning permission by Dublin City Council for a 10-year refurbishment of its premises.

The development will include the addition of new studios and library to the rear of the building on the second floor and a new external fire escape to the rear elevation. It will also involve the reconfiguration of Ely Place Upper, Bells Lane and the ground floor car-park to allow for a new entrance lobby, café and bookshop. There will also be new pavement and hard landscaping works to Ely Place Upper and the inclusion of 10 bicycle spaces in the car park.

281 homes for Old Wesley site

Joe O'Reilly's Castlethorn Construction has got planning permission from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for 281 homes at the Old Wesley Rugby Club in Kilgobbin Lane, Stepaside, Co Dublin. The developer has permission to demolish the former rugby club and remove the pitches.

The proposal is to build 281 residential units, including 52 houses and dormer bungalows. There would also be 24 duplex units in three blocks, 57 gateway apartments in five blocks rising to six storeys, and 148 apartments in seven blocks rising to six storeys. The developer is to build 228 surface car-parking spaces and a playing pitch, all on a site of 4.48 hectares.

71 apartments for Dun Laoghaire

Montana Properties has got the thumbs up from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for a development at the Old School House, Eblana Avenue, Dún Laoghaire. The company was granted permission for a development of 71 apartments with retail and office on the ground floor and basement.

It will involve demolishing the Old School House and the rear of 3 Eblana Avenue, and building four blocks around a landscaped courtyard which will rise to five storeys with two setbacks. There will also be a central civic space with a public pedestrian way linking Sussex Road to Crofton Road, and 62 car-parking spaces at basement level and 52 at sub-basement level.

Last year An Bord Pleanála refused Montana Properties planning permission for a development of 77 apartments on the site. The directors of Montana Properties are Waterford businessmen Peter and John Queally, as well as Dubliners David Hicks and Kevin Hegarty.