3485/22

PROTECTED STRUCTURE: The development will consist of a 74 unit Build to Rent scheme consisting of 11 no. 2-bedroom apartments, 18 no. 1-bedroom apartments and 45 no. studio-apartments and ancillary communal areas in an 8 storey over lower ground floor level building. The gross floor area of the building to be 6032sqm with 640sqm communal facilities to include a gym area, communal social area with kitchen facility, bike storage for 122 bicycles (22 at ground floor and 100 at lower ground floor), bike repair station, workspaces, meeting rooms, communal storage area and a parcel room. With ancillary plant / services and 390sqm of communal landscaped garden (210sqm at ground floor and 180sqm at lower ground floor). At ground floor level 4 no car parking spaces, 22 no bicycle parking spaces, external lift and enclosure to lower ground floor level, ESB sub station and 2 no external stairs to lower ground floor level. Ground floor accommodation within the building to include a 50sqm reception area, 2 no. communal lounge areas, with 2 no. lifts, 3 no. stairs and residential accommodation. There is a 56sqm communal roof terraces at sixth floor level along with 2 no. additional roof terraces at seventh floor (93sqm and 48sqm). There are proposed balconies to the South, West, and East. All with enabling and site development works, landscaping, boundary treatment, lighting, services and connections, waste management and all other ancillary works.

Refused

Core Refusal Reason

The proposed development was refused due to excessive height, scale, bulk, and massing, which was deemed to constitute overdevelopment of a restricted backland site, failing to integrate with the adjacent Protected Structures and seriously injuring the character and setting of the Z2 Residential Conservation Area.

Decision Maker's Conclusion

  • While the principle of high-density BTR development is acceptable on this brownfield site given its proximity to public transport, the specific design response is monolithic and fails to respect the prevailing scale and architectural character of the surrounding townscape.
  • The proposed 8-storey height lacks an appropriate transition to the neighboring terrace of Protected Structures (59-69 Drumcondra Road Lower), resulting in a visually discordant and overbearing feature that would negatively impact residential amenities and outlook.
  • The development represents overdevelopment as evidenced by a density of 435 units/ha and a plot ratio of 3.52, which are significantly above indicative standards, alongside concerns regarding the quality of residential amenity, specifically a lack of genuine dual-aspect units.

Cited Policies (CDP)

Objective Z2Section 5.5.7Policy QHSN40Policy QHSN41Policy QHSN42Policy SMT1Appendix 3Policy BHA2Policy BHA9Policy BHA14Section 14.7.2Section 15.5.2Section 15.8.6Section 15.9.1Section 15.9.3Section 15.13.4

Decision Document Summary

This Inspector's Report concerns an appeal by Ginxo Trading Ltd against Dublin City Council's decision to refuse permission for a 74-unit Build-to-Rent (BTR) scheme at Turnpike Lane, Drumcondra. The 0.17ha site is a restricted backland area located behind a terrace of Protected Structures and within an Objective Z2 Residential Conservation Area. The proposal consists of an 8-storey building over a lower ground floor. The Inspector acknowledged the site's 'central/accessible' location near Drumco...
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