Glenveagh, a publicly traded homebuilding company, has had its proposal for a €60 million 135-apartment project near Howth demesne thwarted by Fingal County Council. Glenveagh’s subsidiary, GLL PRS Holdco Limited, intended to erect four building blocks, each between three and five storeys high, on the 3.8-acre site. The proposed scheme included the installation of up to 72 two-bedroom flats and 63 one-bedroom residences.
The scheme claimed to bolster a sustainable housing inventory in a promising area along Howth Road and its surroundings. Yet, the proposal was met with substantial local resistance. Maria Doyle from Balkill Park, Howth objected, expressing concerns that this scheme would reduce Howth’s unique appeal.
The Howth and Sutton Community Council also lodged a strong objection, arguing that the scheme would spoil the aesthetic appeal of Howth Castle’s architectural preservation area. Council Chairman, Andrew Smith, argued that it was wholly unsuitable to site 135 flats next to a historically significant castle.
The council refused the scheme outright, arguing that the proposed structure’s size, shape, height, and general impact were out of sync with the local baseline environment, historical and natural surroundings. The site is located in an area categorised as a ‘high sensitivity landscape,’ a protection zone for the special Howth amenity area and borders Howth Castle’s architectural preservation area.
The council affirmed that the scheme would be entirely out of place and would negatively impact the visual charm of the area and interfere with the uniqueness, environment, and special interest of various protected establishments, such as Howth Castle and St Mary’s church. Additionally, the planning authority highlighted that the proposed project might set a negative example for future developments of a similar nature.