Ardstone gets planning for 562 homes on former Jesuit site in south Dublin

A real estate developer has secured final approval for a major residential development on a historic site in south Dublin after a protracted legal battle. Ardstone, a property investment firm, has received planning permission for a €356 million project involving 562 homes on land previously owned by the Jesuit Order near the intersection of Sandford Road and Milltown Road in Dublin 6. The approval comes after An Coimisiún Pleanála upheld a decision by Dublin City Council to grant the permit, despite opposition from local residents. The project marks the third time Ardstone has sought planning permission for the 10-acre site. Previous applications were challenged in court, leading to judicial reviews that delayed the process. The current proposal represents a significant revision from earlier plans, incorporating feedback from critics and legal rulings. The latest version includes fewer homes, lower building heights, and measures to preserve green space along the western edge of the site. Ardstone acquired the land from the Jesuit Order in 2019 for €69 million. In 2021, the company submitted an application under the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) framework, seeking permission to construct 667 primarily build-to-rent apartments. This request was approved by An Bord Pleanála, but local residents launched a judicial review to challenge the scale of the development and its environmental impact. During the ongoing legal dispute, Ardstone introduced a revised plan in 2023, proposing 636 homes, 31 fewer than the original design, and submitted it under the Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) system, which replaced the SHD framework. The council granted planning permission for this updated scheme in September 2023, but it too faced judicial review. In early 2024, Ardstone presented yet another modified plan featuring 562 homes, a reduction of 105 compared to the initial 667. This iteration included further reductions in building height and additional measures to address community concerns. Dublin City Council approved the latest proposal in April, and the decision was confirmed by An Coimisiún Pleanála in late May. Mark Forrest, a senior director at Ardstone, expressed satisfaction with the outcome. He stated that the company had taken into account the criticisms raised during previous legal challenges and implemented meaningful changes to the development. These adjustments include reducing the total number of homes, lowering the maximum height of buildings, and ensuring better separation from adjacent properties. Forrest emphasized that the revised plan aims to balance the need for new housing with sensitivity to the surrounding environment. The project will include essential amenities such as a creche and a cafe/restaurant, catering to the needs of future residents. The company hopes to begin construction soon, allowing the project to move forward toward completion. Local residents remain divided over the development. While some welcome the addition of affordable housing in a growing urban area, others continue to raise concerns about traffic, noise, and the preservation of the neighborhood's character. There is speculation that opponents might pursue a third judicial review, though no formal action has been announced. The approval highlights the complexities of urban development in Ireland, where balancing housing demand with community interests often leads to prolonged legal battles. As the project moves closer to realization, stakeholders will monitor how the revised plan addresses existing concerns and whether it sets a precedent for similar developments in other parts of the country.