Terenure College development draws more than 200 objectors

Project will help secure future viability of fee-paying school, says Carmelite Order

Plans to develop part of Terenure College's sports fields for build-to-rent housing have attracted 215 objections from local residents. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Plans to develop part of Terenure College's sports fields for build-to-rent housing have attracted 215 objections from local residents. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times

More than 210 objections have now been lodged against plans for a seven-storey, 364 unit build-to-rent apartment scheme on former playing pitches at Terenure College in Dublin.

The Carmelite Order — which runs Terenure College and owns the substantial land bank at the school site — says the development will help secure the future viability of the school.

The plan by Lioncor — which also includes 21 houses — for the build-to-rent and build-to-sell scheme at Fortfield Road comprises four apartment blocks with 15 studio apartments, 166 one-bed, 174 two-bed apartments and nine three-bed units.

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However, the proposed scheme has attracted 215 objections from 215 local residents including a number of residents associations, on which consultation has now closed

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In an objection lodged on behalf of the Terenure West and the College and Wainsfort Residents Associations, Marston Consultancy contends that the scheme represents overdevelopment and would be “completely out of character with the area” which “will result in permanent and profound negative impacts on the residential and visual amenity of existing residents and their properties”.

‘Transient population’

Emer, Eoin and Ronan Fitzpatrick of Greelea Road took exception to the build-to-rent nature of most of the development saying it was “not appropriate or ethical” given the housing crisis and would provide only for a “transient population that goes entirely against the sense of community in Terenure”.

They said a scheme of apartments for sale would allow older members of the community to downsize their homes and free up housing stock suitable for families to purchase.

Dublin South East Committee chairman Cllr Dermot Lacey (Labour) said he had told the council the committee believes the scheme is “unsuitable” for the location and “is unsustainable”.

Terenure College RFC has lodged a submission in favour of the proposed scheme which is adjacent to rugby club lands that are under long-term leases with the Carmelite Order.

Rugby club trustees Tom Moloney, Frank Gildea and Brian Colgan said the club consider the proposed development “a positive addition to the locality” and a source of new members for the club.

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan is a contributor to The Irish Times