DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL has given the go-ahead to construct 439 purpose built student bed spaces for the former Smurfit Paper Mills site at Clonskeagh in Dublin 6.

The council has granted planning permission to Harley Issuer DAC – a vehicle for private investment firm Bain Capital – to construct 439 bed spaces across five blocks from one storey to part seven storeys along with 16 residential apartments.

The large scale residential development also includes the extension and renovation of 14 existing residential dwellings at Clonskeagh Road.

The planning authority has granted planning permission despite opposition from some local residents and River Dodder anglers.

In the 38 page council planner’s report recommending that planning permission be granted it stated that the application site is a vacant brownfield site and the proposed development for purpose built student accommodation and residential development will “make efficient use of this underutilised” site.

The planned scheme is 1km north-west of UCD’s main campus at Belfield and in lodging the student accommodation plans the firm is looking to tap into the lucrative market of student accommodation provision in south Dublin.

An image from the plans for the proposed purpose-built student accommodation and residential development at the former Paper Mills site. Model Works Ltd Model Works Ltd

The 2023/2024 annual report by the market leader in the south Dublin sector, University College Dublin (UCD) shows that it generated €42.8 million in ‘rental income from student residences on campus’ in the 12 months to the end of September last.

In an objection against the scheme, the Dodder Anglers Association, which represents over 1,300 members, stated that it is very concerned the proposals “could damage the biodiversity of River Dodder green/blue corridor and are in breach with Dublin city councils biodiversity action plan as well as the EU habitats direct and water Framework Directive”.

However, in the Council planner’s report, it stated that “the proposed removal of a proportion of the existing sluice gates in combination with a series of river bed grade control structures will facilitate indigenous fish passage of key species and age classes over a range of flow rates at the existing historical weir”.

The Council’s Conservation Division concluded that the proposed alteration would not result in an adverse impact to the industrial heritage.

The Council planner’s report stated that it took into account the views of other third parties who made submissions.

On behalf of the Eglinton Residents Association, Robin Mandal hit out at what he believes to be “a proposed gross over-development of this sensitive site”.

Mandal told the Council: “we believe that the proposed development would constitute over-development of the site by virtue of its height, scale, bulk and massing at this sensitive and highly visible and sensitive site on the banks of the River Dodder

Mandal contended that the student scheme’s “impact on the bio-diversity and flora and fauna of the riparian setting will be profound, obliterating much of value”.

He added that the former Smurfit Paper Mills site “has remained vacant and unused for more than 20 years”.

Mandal stated that “nowhere along the River Dodder has such an overtly dominant proposal been built” and the impact of this proposed development on the river would be “profound and, if permitted, would set a dangerous and undesirable precedent for future development in the entire country along our rivers”.

Chair of the Richview Residents Association, Marion Cashman said there have been seven planning applications on this site over 20 years.

The number of units proposed ranged from 130 units in 2005 to the now proposed 440 student bedspaces and 30 residences, Cashman added.

“The current proposal is an overdevelopment of the site and would set an undesirable and unacceptable precedent for this sensitive location on the river Dodder and other such sites,” she said.