RESIDENTS IN DUBLIN 6 have lodged objections to plans for a €356 million apartment development in Milltown, warning that the scale and height of the proposed scheme would “dwarf” existing homes in the area.

The planned apartments would be contructed on the corner of Sandford Road and Milltown Road in Dublin 6.

In January, Ardstone subsidiary, Sandford Living Ltd launched a renewed bid to secure planning permission for 562 apartments for the site comprising 267 two bed units, 176 one bed units, 43 three bed unit and 70 studios across seven apartment blocks.

As part of its social housing requirements, Sandford Living is proposing to sell 56 of the planned 562 apartments to Dublin City Council for social housing, and has put a price tag of €1.03m on the largest three-bed apartment.

It is Sandford Living Ltd’s third application for the site and planning consultants, Thornton O’Connor (TOC) state that the previous two applications have been subject to High Court judicial reviews.

Advancing the case for the new scheme, TOC state the Large Scale Residential Development (LRD) has been reduced from 636 to 562 and a 10-storey apartment block has been reduced to eight storeys.

A rendering of the proposed site in Dublin 6.

In an objection, the Norwood Residents Association has told the council that the excessive scale, height and proximity of the proposed Blocks A and C to Norwood Park “will have an overbearing impact on all residents”.

The submission states: “Put simply there is no justification for building structures of the heights proposed so close to existing residences.”

The closing date for submissions was Tuesday, and Dublin City Council has processed 31 third-party submissions to date including one from the Cherryfield Avenue Residents Association.

Julie Ennis of Cherryfield Avenue Upper, Ranelagh has told the council “that the scheme dwarfs our property”.

“I have observed the pictures which are very depressing, dark, and imposing,” Ennis said.

Ennis states that “there is a housing crisis and an urgent need for housing in this and other areas of Dublin.”

“However, the density proposed, represents a gross overdevelopment of the site. 562 new units taken together with other new developments in the area will put unbearable pressure on the amenities of the area.”

In their submission, Brenna and Ray Clarke of Cherryfield Avenue Lower, Ranelagh have told the council that “Ranelagh is in danger of losing its cultural life and combination of young and old residents, swamped by apartments and inappropriate housing”.

“The development does nothing to conserve our homes, community or Green environment nor does it help the real housing shortage in Dublin,” the Clarkes added.

Another submission from Cherryfield Avenue resident Liam Kilcullen said that he was concerned that the introduction of walkways “may encourage anti-social behaviour and above all open the back of our property and our neighbour’s property to intrusion.”

A decision is due on the application next month.