New housing development for 280 units in south west Dublin denied
Newcastle South, Co Dublin, is set to see a change in plans for a proposed housing development by Cairn Homes. In a surprising turn of events, An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) has rejected the planning application for 280 new homes, leaving the future of the project uncertain.
The specific reasons for the rejection remain unclear, as the reports do not detail the grounds on which ACP based its decision. However, common reasons for such rejections typically involve concerns about zoning, environmental impact, infrastructure, traffic, or community objections. For a more definitive understanding, one may need to consult the official An Coimisiún Pleanála decision document or subsequent news updates.
The proposed development, covering an area of 8.5 hectares, would have consisted of 128 houses, 116 apartments, and 36 duplex units. The houses would have been two-storey units, with 94 being three-bedroom homes, 25 four-bedroom homes, 8 two-bedroom units, and a single five-bedroom property. The apartments would have been spread across two five-storey buildings, with the duplex apartments located across three buildings each with three-storeys.
Open, green spaces and amenity assets were planned as part of the development, with a total of 423 parking spaces and provision for 370 bicycles. The demolition of homes was contrary to the South Dublin County Council Development Plan's goal of prioritizing retrofitting buildings instead of demolition and reconstruction, which may have played a role in the decision.
Local councillors expressed serious concern about the growth of Newcastle during the presentation of the plans in mid-2022. The architectural variety in the two apartment blocks was deemed inadequate and would adversely impact the visual and residential amenity of the area.
Interestingly, Cairn Homes had two other applications approved in the area during the three-year period. However, no information was provided about the reasons for the rejection of the planning application or the nature of the other approved applications.
The Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Natura Impact Statement submitted in the planning application were found to be inaccurate, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
Cairn Homes has been contacted for comment regarding the direction notice, but no response has been made available as of August 2025.
Despite the rejection of the planning application for 280 new homes in Newcastle South, Co Dublin by An Coimisiún Pleanála, the specific reasons for the decision remain unclear. Concerns about architectural variety, environmental impact, infrastructure, traffic, community objections, and lack of adherence to the Development Plan's goals might have contributed to the rejection, as previously seen in similar cases.
