Residents at an upmarket estate in Malahide in north Dublin known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’ have failed in their bid to prevent a new nearby residential scheme getting the green light.
An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission to Hollybrook Homes subsidiary, Kinwest Ltd for the construction of 91 homes on the grounds of Auburn House at Little Auburn and Streamstown off the R107 Malahide Road/Dublin Road.
Auburn House was the Malahide home of Mary McEvaddy, the former wife of aviation tycoon, Ulick McEvaddy and sold for an undisclosed sum in 2019 to UK construction firm Hollybrook, headed by developer Michael Cox and the permitted Kinwest scheme is made up of 44 houses, 34 apartments and 13 duplexes.
In giving the scheme the go-ahead, the appeals board has dismissed the appeal lodged by Savaron Ltd, a management company representing residents of the nearby Abington estate.
Abington was first developed in 2000 and was one of Dublin’s first purpose-built millionaires’ estates, comprising 50 luxurious homes that lie in 43 acres of parkland near Malahide Castle and marina.
Past and present owners of properties include Westlife singer Nicky Byrne and his wife, Georgina Ahern, singer Ronan Keating and his former wife Yvonne, Ireland striker Robbie Keane and his wife Claudine; and former Anglo Irish Bank boss David Drumm.
The Property Price Register shows that the most recent house sale at Abington at No 47 sold for €2.275 million in March of this year.
In its decision, the appeals board granted planning permission to Kinwest Ltd having regard to national and local policies aimed at increasing housing supply and delivering compact urban growth at appropriate locations.
The appeals board found that the scheme would constitute an acceptable quantum and density of residential development and would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of property in the vicinity.
In its objection to the Kinwest scheme, planning consultant for Savaron, Stephen Ward stated that in terms of the overall design and layout, including building mass and height and density, there is no significant difference in the current proposal to that previously refused that would render it now acceptable and consistent with the policies of the Fingal Development Plan.
Mr Ward argued on behalf of the Abington management company that the Kinwest application is procedurally and administratively flawed in so many respects.
Mr Ward contended that the application is invalid for a host of reasons.
One of the country's best known commentators on the housing crisis and Malahide resident Karl Deeter has welcomed the green light for the scheme.
Previously, the regular on TV and radio talk shows wrote to An Bord Pleanala in support of a larger Kinwest scheme for Auburn House.
On Wednesday, Mr Deeter said: “I am happy with this decision. Malahide needs homes."
He said that the new homes “will be wrapped right around me. You have to accept the need for new homes and part of that means saying ‘yes in my backyard’ when it may not suit me.
He added: "Malahide is a great place. It is so lovely, why wouldn’t you want to live here? These are going to be nice houses. I have faith in the system. I believe the appeals board has made the right decision”.
