Aoibhin Bryant

Sep 04

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Green light for €112m Coastal Quarter housing development on old Bray Golf Club

By Aoibhin Bryant | Upcoming Construction Projects

An Bord Pleanála (ABP) has granted permission for the second phase of the Coastal Quarter Strategic Housing Development (SHD) in Bray, Co Wicklow.

The planning body gave developers Shankill Property Investments Limited the go-ahead on the condition that floors 7, 8 and 9 in Block B were removed.

The €112 million development will offer over 586 new homes on the old Bray Golf Club lands.

Coastal Quarter Credit: Glenn Howells Architects

An Bord Pleanála (ABP) has granted permission for the second phase of the Coastal Quarter Strategic Housing Development (SHD) in Bray, Co Wicklow. Credit: Glenn Howells Architects

Around 76 terraced houses are set to be constructed: 13 two-bed, two-storey houses, 51 three-bed, two-storey houses and 12 four-bed, three-storey houses.

Another 51 apartments will be in duplex units, comprising of 26 two-bedroom ground-floor apartments and 26 three-bedroom apartments across 26 three-storey terraced buildings.

All duplexes will be provided with balconies and gardens.

Another 458 apartments were planned to span across four apartment blocks, ranging in height from three to 12 storeys.

In total, 239 one-beds, 198 two-beds and 21 three-beds were in plans applied to An Bord Pleanala.

The €112 million development will offer over 586 new homes on the old Bray Golf Club lands. Credit: Glenn Howells Architects

Each will be offered either a balcony or a terrace.

A retail unit, a café and a commercial space housing a gym and a juice bar are included in plans for residents. These amenities will be found in Block B.

A creche will also be built.

Communal areas such as open spaces, playgrounds and a multi-use games area are planned.

Developers will build 549 car parking spaces – 478 spaces for residents, 36 spaces for residential visitors, 14 spaces for retail use and 21 spaces for staff, creche set down and car sharing.

326 of these spaces will be at undercroft level with the remaining 223 spaces to be at the surface, on the street or curtilage.

A total of 23 spaces will be accessible parking spaces and 66 will be EV charging spaces.

A retail unit, a café and a commercial space housing a gym and a juice bar are included in plans for residents. These amenities will be found in Block B. Credit: Glenn Howells Architects

Another 24 spaces will be reserved for motorcycles and there will be 1,076 bicycle parking spaces (791 residential and 254 visitors).

Bike stores will also be erected for the house and duplex units.

This project is the second phase of Shankill Property Investments Limited’s Coastal Quarter SHD, with the first phase commencing construction last year.

Feature Image Credit: Glenn Howells Architects

Aug 29

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Work begins on £41m ‘eco-friendly’ Queen’s University student accommodation in Belfast

By Aoibhin Bryant | Building Information Ireland

Work has commenced on a £41 million student accommodation for Queen’s University in Belfast.

Construction started on a 17-storey building providing 463 apartments with communal facilities as well as internal and external communal amenities spaces.

Work began in August 2024 with the first batch of students expected to make themselves home in September 2026.

The building will be erected on the Dublin Road.

Work has commenced on a £41 million student accommodation for Queens University in Belfast. Credit: RPP Architects – Belfast

Queen’s University Belfast have hailed the Passivhaus development as the “largest eco-friendly student accommodation on the island of Ireland”.

Passivhaus is a standard that means very little energy is used to maintain heating or cooling in the building due to insulation, appropriate windows, and ventilation systems with heat recovery among others.

Queen’s will share the site with tech giant Kainos, which is building its new headquarters.

Speaking at the sod-turning event, Queen’s President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer remarked that the accommodation will “transform” the area once known as Belfast’s Golden Mile.

Work began on August 2024 with the first batch of students expected to make themselves home in September 2026. Credit: Ray Matthews LinkedIn 15/08/24

“For the past 180 years, Queen’s has been renowned for providing a world-class education to our students and huge influence on the economic and social landscape of Belfast and beyond,” he said.

“This accommodation, together with Kainos’ new office space, will transform the landscape of Dublin Road, increase economic activity in the area through city-centre-living and deliver tangible benefits for the welfare of our people and planet.”

Liz McLaughlin, Director for Student and Campus Experience said the accommodation will help meet the increasing demand for student accommodation.

“Belfast is a lively, future-focussed city that year-on-year, is attracting a higher number of students, meaning Queen’s has seen increased demand for university accommodation,” she said.

Speaking at the sod-turning event, Queen’s President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer remarked that the accommodation will “transform” the area once known as Belfast’s Golden Mile. Credit: Queen’s University Belfast

“Our continued investment in first-rate accommodation and facilities offers prospective students high-quality, secure living quarters, alongside a transformative student experience.”

Feature Image Credit: RPP Architects – Belfast

Aug 06

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Oranmore Credit: John Fleming Architects (Dublin)

Plans applied for €75.5m housing development in Oranmore, Galway

By Aoibhin Bryant | Industry News

Plans have been applied for a €75.5 million Large Scale Residential Development (LRD) in Oranmore, Co Galway.

Developers Marshall Yards Development Company Ltd put forward plans for the construction of 171 new homes in Carton and Garraun South.

Current plans would see the demolition of an existing shed and associated structures on the 5.5-hectare site.

In its wake, plans see around 167 houses and 4 apartments built.

Of the houses, 16 will be one-beds, 71 will be two-beds, 70 will be three-beds and 10 will be four-beds.

The four apartments will be two-bed duplexes.

Plans have been applied for a €75.5 million Large Scale Residential Development (LRD) in Oranmore, Co Galway — bringing 171 new homes to the area. Credit: John Fleming Architects (Dublin)

Applicants seek to build a creche and the provision of pedestrian and cyclist facilities along the R338 to Oranmore rail station.

An ESB substation, a pumping station and footpaths, parking, bicycle and bin stores are also included in current plans.

Access for residents would be available via a new entrance on the L-71051 to the east.

Marshall Yards Development Company Ltd submitted plans to Galway City Council on June 17, 2024.

A decision from the Council is due by August 11, 2024.

Feature Image Credit: John Fleming Architects (Dublin)

Jul 01

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Work Begins On New €49m Dublin HQ for Deloitte

By Aoibhin Bryant | Industry News

Deloitte has started work on their new headquarters in Dublin city.

Work kicked off in June with the demolition of the existing office development on the Dublin 2 site – an eight-storey L-shaped office block and carpark.

No other work has started yet but the future will see the erection of a new building complete with retail and cafe use as well as a community facility at 1 Adelaide Road.

The structure will range in height from four storeys at the rear, facing through Albert Terrace and Albert Place West, then a setback of six to eight storeys and finally a nine to ten-storey setback at the entrance, facing Harcourt Road and Adelaide Road.

The building will reach an upper parapet height of 41.47m.

It will cost an estimated €49 million in total.

External terraces will face Albert Terrace and Albert Place West (on the fourth floor) as well as Peter Place and Albert Place West (on the sixth floor).

A wrap-around terrace will circle the eighth floor and the ninth floor has a terrace facing Harcout Road and Peter Place.

In line with hybrid working trends, the car park will be downsized from the original 51 spaces down to just 24 spaces. This will be found at the basement level, accessed via a car lift off Albert Place West.

In lieu of extra car spaces, 289 bicycle spaces will be provided (including cargo bike and accessible spaces and 12 visitor spaces).

The office will also be located on the green Luas line at the Harcourt stop.

Irish Life Assurance Plc put forward plans for the new office in January 2023.

Dublin City Council gave them the go-ahead in June of that year with work officially beginning a year later.

Deloitte’s Dublin branch currently hires upward of 1,800 people.

Feature Image Credit: RKD

Jun 20

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Fingal County Council looking to build 449 new social homes

By Aoibhin Bryant | Industry News

Fingal County Council has lodged plans for two expansive social housing developments in North Dublin.

The county council is looking to build 449 new homes across Swords and Donabate.

The projects will cost around €99 million, with plans applied in the last month.

The largest residential development is hoped to be constructed in Swords.

At €60 million, the plan would deliver 274 homes in Mooretown – 187 houses and 87 duplex and apartment units.

Fingal Social Homes Credit: Fingal County Council

The largest residential development is hoped to be constructed in Swords — the €60 million project will build 274 homes. Credit: Credit: 3D Design Bureau

Ranging from two to five storeys, there will be 18 one-beds, 109 two-beds, 128 three-beds and 19 four-beds.

Fingal County Council also seeks the provision of Class 2 Open Space of 18,065 sq.m including riparian corridors and eight pocket parks with a total area of 2,950 sq.m.

New pedestrian and cycle connections are also planned to the west with 415 car parking spaces (357 residential and 58 short-stay) and 1,143 bicycle parking spaces (1,117 residential and 26 short-stay).

The Donabate development is smaller – costing €39 million for 175 homes.

It is proposed for a site on New Road with 123 houses and 52 apartments.

The houses will range part-one storey to two storeys in height – with 30 two-beds, 82 three-beds and 11 four-beds.

The 52 apartments will include 26 one-beds, 20 two-beds and six three-beds in a single block, from one to four storeys in height.

The Donabate development is smaller – costing €39 million for 175 homes. Credit: 3D Design Bureau

Private amenity spaces such as gardens, balconies and terraces will be provided for the homes.

A single-storey creche (with outdoor play area and external stores) is planned for residents.

The development will include two new multi-modal entrances as well as connections to existing or under-construction residential developments to the east and north of the site.

The project envisions 139 car parking spaces, four set-down bays as well as motorcycle and bicycle parking.

A public open space and a communal amenity space are in current plans.

Feature Image Credit: 3D Design Bureau

Jun 14

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Land Development Agency (LDA) announces new panel with aims to deliver over 5,000 new homes

By Aoibhin Bryant | Upcoming Construction Projects

The Land Development Agency has announced a new framework panel that aims to provide more than 5,000 new homes in Ireland.

The panel will include 15 of Ireland’s “largest and most experienced” homebuilders with hopes that the initiative will accelerate the construction of large-scale high density and affordable housing projects.

The homebuilders were chosen by the State’s affordable housing delivery body through a public procurement competition.

The homebuilders chosen are as follows: Alanna Homes, Ballymore, Cairn Homes, Chartered Land, Elkstone, Glenveagh Properties plc, Greencare Construction Limited, Greenseed , Marlet Property Group, McGarrell Reilly, O’Callaghan Properties, O’Flynn Group, Park Developments, Quintain Ireland, Royalton Group.

The panel will provide a number of options, including forward funding mechanisms which will process phased payments to housebulders to ensure the completion of affordable homes.

The framework panel is a part of the LDA’s Project Tosaigh programme, which strives to complete housing projects by purchasing homes upon completion and then providing them as new homes to renters or to purchasers at an affordable price.

The LDA will put funding towards housing projects based upon milestones reached during the development proess. It is believed that this will speed up the delivery of homes as the LDA will run competitive mini tenders to drive “fair but robust” pricing tension.

Subject to funding, the agency will provide around €2 billion to key housing projects around the country.

John Coleman, Chief Executive of the LDA, hailed the panel as a “step-change” in the way the agency delivers homes.

“It identifies strong project partners who will work with us to design and deliver affordable homes in the right places, at scale and at the right cost,” he said.

“The framework will give the LDA greater control over the housing projects it funds, as the Agency will be more involved in design and financing from an earlier stage.

“It also provides more certainty for the housebuilders we partner with, incentivising them to achieve development milestones through staged payments.”

The panel will remain in place for four years.

Feature Image Credit: LDA

May 29

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Plans applied for new €190m film and TV studio in South Dublin

By Aoibhin Bryant | Building Information Ireland

Plans have been put forward for a brand new €190 million film and TV studio at Grange Castle Media Park in south Dublin.

Applicants Lens Media Ltd are seeking to construct a state-of-the-art stage and studio development on the 56-acre site in Newcastle, Co Dublin.

It will be known as ‘Dublin Fields’.

Plans include constructing six stage buildings, ranging in height between 20m and 23m and comprising 11 internal sound stages with overhead catwalks and two-storey production offices.

The combined floor space of these buildings will be around 35,187 square meters.

Another four buildings will work as workshops, varying in height from nine to 10.5 metres – these will include internal workshop areas, staff toilets and showers, ICT rooms, plant rooms, and switch rooms.

Building 4 will comprise a reception and three TV studios, each studio at 17.8 metres in flight. Spanning three floors, it will include a backstage shooting area, green rooms, hair and makeup rooms, production suites with ancillary offices, wardrobe and a laundry room.

On the ground floor, we will see technical support offices, both a vision and a lighting department, offices, sound control rooms, vision rooms, recording rooms and toilets.

Standard dressing rooms, post-production spaces, kitchen and crew area, toilets, mechanical/electrical room and technical office will be found on the first floor.

More star dressing rooms, TV post production, a lounge a kitchen and toilets will be on the second floor.

A single storey reception building will include guest holding areas, VIP and Guest service, security offices, staff toilets, showers and locker rooms.

A two-storey dining hall will feature indoor and outdoor dining areas, a kitchen, storage and mechanical rooms, toilets, and three meeting rooms on the ground floor. The first floor will offer office space and covered outdoor balconies. An ancillary 100-seat theatre will also be included in the building.

A standalone café will be constructed.

A three-storey car park will provide 438 car parking spaces, including 100 EV and 27 disabled spaces.

A vehicular, cyclist and pedestrian entrance will come from the new Grange Castle West Access Road, on the eastern boundary of the site.

Vehicular access will also be available at the southeastern corner of the site.

Lens Media, which is backed by Irish producer Alan Moloney (Siege of Jadotville and Brooklyn) and Oscar-nominated American Producer Gary Levinsohn (Saving Private Ryan), submitted plans to South Dublin City Council last month.

Feature Image Credit: MCA Architects

May 27

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Narrow Water Bridge RTE Credit: An Bord Pleanala

Contract awarded for cross-border Narrow Water Bridge

By Aoibhin Bryant | Industry News, Upcoming Construction Projects

BAM has been awarded the contract for the cross-border Narrow Water Bridge development.

The bridge will be erected from Cornamucklagh townland, Omeath in Co Louth across the Newry River to Narrow Water townland, Warrenpoint in Co Down.

The €60 million development is expected to take three years to build and will use money from both the Shared Island Fund and €3 million announced by the Irish government in 2021.

The plan seeks to place a 280m cable-stayed bridge, anchored by two towers at either end, for both car and cycle traffic.

It would also allow for the passage of tall ships, leisure craft and other marine vessels through the Victoria Lock and the Albert Basin Newry canal.

The bridge will be asymmetric cable-stayed with rolling bascule opening span. The south span is set to measure up to approximately 138.35m and the north span is approximately 56.8m, giving a total length of approximately 195m.

The structure will be supported by asymmetric back-ward inclined towers, the higher tower will be located on the southern side of the crossing – on the centre line of the bridge.

BAM has been awarded the contract for the cross-border Narrow Water Bridge development. Credit: RTE

The lower twin towers will be placed on the northern side.

Another control building will be constructed on the southern approach to facilitate the bridge’s opening.

While construction was expected to commence in 2023, a contract was granted in May 2024 to BAM.

Work is set to begin in the coming weeks.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill welcomed the news.

I am absolutely delighted that the contract for the Narrow Water Bridge has been awarded, with work due to begin within weeks.

This will be transformative for South Down and the Cooley areas, creating a wealth of opportunities and unlocking the huge potential to create good… pic.twitter.com/CK6QHQfboY

— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) May 13, 2024

‘I am absolutely delighted that the contract for the Narrow Water Bridge has been awarded, with work due to begin within weeks,’ she said.

‘This will be transformative for South Down and the Cooley areas, creating a wealth of opportunities and unlocking the huge potential to create good quality jobs, boost tourism and create a stronger, all-Ireland economy.

‘An exciting time ahead for local communities in South Down and Louth!’

Feature Image Credit: An Bord Pleanala

May 14

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Commencement of €49m housing development in Manorlands, Trim

By Aoibhin Bryant | Industry News

Construction has started on a €49 million housing development in Manorlands, Trim, Co. Meath.

On April 23 2024, work began on 45 residential dwellings on the site of a former cattle market.

Developers Keegan Land Holdings Ltd are looking to build 319 total homes–comprising 136 houses and 183 apartments.

In relation to the houses, 10 will be two-beds, 105 will be three-beds and 21 will be four-beds.

The apartments will be built across four 3-5 storey blocks with 11 studios, 30 one-beds, 71 two-beds and eight three-beds.

Another 64 duplex apartments will be built within eight 3-storey blocks, with 32 two-beds and 32 three-beds.

All units will have associated private gardens, balconies or terraces.

A creche and community centre are also planned for the development.

Construction has started on a €49 million housing development at Manorlands, Trim, Co. Meath. Credit: BBA Architecture

For residents, 563 car parking spaces will be available, with 188 bike parking spaces also.

Both vehicular and pedestrian accesses will be provided from Summerhill Road, which will be upgraded with additional cycleways and footpaths.

Developers submitted plans on July 8 in 2020 with approval granted in October of that year.

However, the development was hit with a series of delays after an environmental group challenged An Bord Pleanála’s planning permission approval.

Eco Adocacy had argued that no appropriate screening had taken place for an Appropriate Assessment, which is required by Irish and EU law.

In 2021, the case was referred to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) to clarify EU legislation surrounding governing protected sites.

In June 2023, the CJEU addressed these questions and in November 2023 the high court dismissed Eco Adovacy’s case against Keegan Land Holdings Ltd.

Nearly four years on, work has now officially begun.

Feature Image Credit: BBA Architecture

Apr 29

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Work Begins on €177m South Docks Development

By Aoibhin Bryant | Industry News

Construction is underway for the €177 million South Docks development in Co Cork.

Work is now set to begin on the proposed Podium 1, Podium 2 and Podium 3 which will see the construction of 12 apartment blocks.

The development will be constructed at the Former Ford Distribution Site, fronting Centre Park Road, Marquee Road and Monahan’s Road, Cork.

Existing structures such as a single-storey building, an entrance canopy, a pump island canopy and floodlights will be demolished.

Three underground fuel tanks will also be decommissioned or removed.

Construction is underway for the €177 million South Docks development in Co Cork. Credit: Model Works

In its place, 1,002 apartments will be built over 12 blocks, comprising of studios, one beds, two beds and three beds.

The apartment blocks will range in height from four to 14 storeys.

On top of the apartments, plans also see the provision of five retail units, a Montessori school, a creche (in a two-storey building connected to Block 3), a medical centre, a bar, a café and a venue/performance area.

A further two community resource spaces are to be provided.

Residents will also enjoy several open space areas, including pocket parks, a linear park, residential squares and urban spaces.

One internal link road will also pass through the site, linking the Centre Park Road and the an extension of Monahan’s Road.

Two pedestrian streets will be built, also linking the Centre Park Road and the extension of Monahan’s Road.

Developers Marina Quarter Ltd. first sought approval on December 23 2020 for the mega project.

On top of the apartments, plans also see the provision of five retail units, a Montessori school, a creche (in a two-storey building connected to Block 3), a medical centre, a bar, a café and a venue/performance area. Credit: Model Works

An Bord Pleanála approved the fast-track of the project on April 20 2021.

The site has hosted the popular Live at the Marquee summer concert series for nearly 20 years.

Work commenced on April 19, 2024 nearly two years after approval.

Feature Image Credit: Model Works

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