Dublin City Council has denied approval for Adroit Company Ltd’s proposal for an 181 apartment project, likened to a “Silicon Docks” design, located in Harold’s Cross. The proposal, for a Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) scheme encompassing four apartment blocks of four to seven storeys each, faced substantial local backlash.
Additional bases for the council’s refusal to grant planning permission were concerns about flooding and site accessibility. The council took note of the site’s location within the Poddle River Flood Zone B, highlighting that “highly exposed developments, such as residential properties should be deterred”. The council’s report further mentioned the lack of current flood defence with the flooding threat persisting until the Poddle flood alleviation scheme is built.
The council also declined to give permission for planning on account of the site’s access and that Adroit was unable to prove the public road nearby wouldn’t suffer traffic congestion. In the council’s words, the proposed project could jeopardise public safety by causing traffic issues.
Although the council previously declined permission for a Strategic Housing Development (SHD) scheme, it suggested potential future development on the site if the issues were tackled. In response, the applicants suggested decreasing the height, size and volume of Blocks A, B, and C.
Alan Massey, owner of the Mount Jerome crematorium, was among the 40 plus submissions against Adroit Company Ltd’s LRD scheme. Massey stated that the proposed project was “comparable to a modern ‘Silicon Docks’ development from the Dublin Port area finding its place in Harold’s Cross, which is wholly inconsistent with its immediate and surrounding environs.” He added that while there was a pressing requirement for more housing in Dublin city, the proposed project was excessively high.
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