Cairn Homes Receives Approval for Revised Donnybrook Progress, Dropping ‘Build to Rent’ Units
Table of Contents
Cairn Homes Montrose Ltd. has secured planning permission from Dublin City Council for a revised residential development on the former RTÉ lands in Donnybrook, Dublin 4.The approved scheme will consist of 500 apartments, a reduction from the 608 units previously approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála in July 2023. A key change in the new proposal is the removal of all ‘build to rent’ apartments. https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2024/0118/1423441-rte-lands-donnybrook-planning/
Development Details
The approved plan comprises a mix of apartment sizes distributed across eight blocks, three of which will reach a height of 10 storeys:
* Two-bed apartments: 326 units
* One-bed apartments: 125 units
* Three-bed apartments: 51 units
* Studios: 8 units
As part of the planning conditions, cairn Homes is required to contribute €5.43 million towards public infrastructure improvements in the area.https://www.independent.ie/business/commercial-property/cairn-homes-gets-green-light-for-500-apartment-donnybrook-scheme-40943998.html
History of the Project
Cairn Homes initially acquired the nearly nine-acre site from RTÉ in June 2017 for €107.5 million. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2017/0623/cairn-homes-agrees-1075m-deal-for-rtes-donnybrook-lands/ The path to approval has involved multiple applications and faced local opposition, though the latest scheme received only one objection.
Local opposition
The objection came from Brian and Orla Murphy of Stillorgan road, Donnybrook, who argued that the development’s “scale, mass and density” constituted excessive overdevelopment. They expressed a desire for a plan that would foster a long-term community rather than maximizing investment returns. The Murphys had previously appealed the earlier approved scheme to An Coimisiún Pleanála,but their appeal was unsuccessful. https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2024/0118/1423441-rte-lands-donnybrook-planning/
Key Takeaways
* Cairn Homes has received approval for a 500-unit residential development on the former RTÉ Donnybrook lands.
* The new plan removes all ‘build to rent’ apartments, focusing on owner-occupier housing.
* The development will consist of a mix of one-, two-, three-bed apartments and studios, with some blocks reaching 10 storeys.
* Cairn Homes will contribute €5.43 million towards public infrastructure.
* The project has a history of local opposition, though the latest scheme faced only one objection.
Looking Ahead
This approval marks a notable step forward for the redevelopment of the prominent RTÉ site. The shift away from ‘build to rent’ units may address some local concerns and cater to the demand for owner-occupied housing in the area. Construction is expected to commence in the coming months, and the completion of this development will contribute to the housing supply in Dublin 4.