A development for Bartra Property comprising the demolition of a house and garage and the construction of a part 3 to part 5 No. storey apartment development (26 No. units) at No. 45 Woodlands Park, Blackrock, which was the subject of 50 No. Third Party Objections, was initially refused permission by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for the following reason:

‘The proposal, by reason of its scale, height, form, massing and architectural expression is not considered to accord with Section 8.2.3.4(vii) of the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown-County Development Plan 2016-2022 in relation in infill development and in its current form fails to respect and compliment the established character of the area. In addition, the proposal, by reason its scale, height, massing and insufficient southern boundary setback, does not provide an appropriate transition in height to properties within the vicinity and will severely compromise the residential amenity of these properties by reasons of overlooking, overshadowing and by being overbearing. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area’. 

However, a First Party Appeal was submitted to An Bord Pleanála which demonstrated that the proposed development will have no material impact on neighbouring residential amenity and included precedent cases of similar schemes in similar contexts that have been Granted permission by An Bord Pleanála. The Board in making their Decision to Grant Permission referred to the overall scale, design and height of the development and concluded that it would not seriously injure the visual or residential amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity.

Thornton O’Connor Town Planning acted as the agents for the application and appeal and are delighted with such a successful outcome on a contentious development.

Thornton O’Connor Town Planning in conjunction with DJI Design are delighted to have received a Grant of Permission from An Bord Pleanála for a four storey office extension to the rear of the Exchequer Chambers building on Exchequer Street.

The development, which was initially issued a Notification of Decision to Grant Permission from Dublin City Council was subject to a Third Party Appeal from an adjoining landowner. It was claimed that the subject development through the inclusion of windows at the party boundary with adjoining lands would hamper the future development potential of the adjoining site.

Thornton O’Connor Town Planning successfully demonstrated to An Bord Pleanála that any future insertion of built fabric to the adjoining site would need to be designed having due regard to its context, which is predominated by historic buildings, including its relationship with the Exchequer Chambers building which was constructed in 1901 to the designs of William H Byrne.

The Board Inspector who ultimately recommended a Grant of Permission stated in their assessment that there is no evidence of any application or development proposals submitted to the planning authority for preplanning enquiry and therefore the development of the adjoining site is purely speculative. The Inspector also noted that the size of the Appellant’s site (c 4,000 sq m) would allow for a variety of design proposals and therefore it was not considered that the proposed development would preclude the future development of sites in the surrounding area.

We are delighted to have secured permission for a high quality built form in the heart of Dublin 2 that will add interest to the streetscape of Andrew’s Lane and maximise the use of city centre infrastructure and services by intensifying office development at the subject site. The scheme represents a significant investment in a strategically located site in the heart of the city which will add to the transformation of the area, improving vitality and viability and ensuring densification of key urban sites.

Cork City Council has Granted Permission for a 145 No. bedspace student accommodation development at Farranlea Road, Cork.

Thornton O’Connor Town Planning in conjunction with Boyes Rees Architecture and Curtins Engineers are delighted to have secured such a clean permission for a professionally managed facility on a key underutilised site in the south-west of Cork City. The relatively complex site is bounded on three sides by residential development (and associated private amenity space) which therefore required an innovative design response to avoid overlooking and adversely impacting upon the residential amenity of neighbouring dwellings.

The Cork City Development Plan 2015-2021 refers to the growth in recent years of the numbers of third level students together with the planned expansion of the city’s major educational/facilities and acknowledges that there is a demand for specific residential accommodation to cater for this need. The Farranlea scheme will play a role in addressing this identified demand.

The Evening Echo has published an article relating to the proposed mixed-use scheme at the Square Deal site at Washington Street West in Cork City, which includes student accommodation (242 No. bedspaces), café use and co-working space.  Thornton O’Connor Town Planning are the agents for the application. A copy of the article is provide below:

http://www.eveningecho.ie/corknews/Developers-lodge-student-apartment-plans-for-Square-Deal-site-d7201c9a-a909-4caf-8c0e-131b1f528254-ds

The location of the site is ideally suited to student accommodation which will provide student living in the heart of the city with ease of access to educational institutions and the variety of retail and commercial facilities in Cork City. The café proposed at ground floor level in the Protected Structure to be retained will ensure that this key historic building is unlocked to the public allowing its internal fabric to be fully appreciated.   The co-working space, also at ground floor level, which includes an associated café/bar and meeting rooms will provide an exciting and innovative commercial concept in the centre of the city.  The development with the 3 No. proposed uses will collectively result in a significant increase in activity and a new vibrancy at the subject location.  The development will also have a significant positive streetscape impact by restoring the 19th-century two- and three-storey redbrick Protected Structure facing Washington Street West to its original presentation befitting of its historical and architectural importance. Importantly, the development will assist in meeting the critical demand for purpose built student accommodation in Cork City.

In a Decision which supports the important role of the Film Industry in Co. Wicklow, permission has been granted for the continued use of the backlot studio at Ardmore Studios.  The  backlot area is critical in ensuring that Ardmore Studios, which is an important national centre for film making, has the available infrastructure to continue to attract future investment and ensure its continued viability at its campus in Bray.

The positive Decision, which issued in less than 6 No. weeks is welcomed by Thornton O’Connor Town Planning who acted as the agents for the planning application in association with Cantrell and Crowley Architects.

Since 2006 Ardmore Studios has been home to three television series – ‘The Tudors’, filmed between 2006 and 2010 at a cost of over €90 million, ‘Camelot’ filmed in 2010 and from 2014 ‘Penny Dreadful’.  In 2011, Byzantium, directed by Neil Jordan, located at Ardmore.