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Oct 11
0

Plans applied for €193m 716-home residential development in Meath

By | Industry News

AZRA Property Company Limited has put forward plans to deliver 716 new homes in Co Meath.

The applicants have applied for a ten-year contract to construct the €193 million development on the townlands of Castle Farm, Ruskin, and Clonee on a site of approximately 16.92HA.

Developers hope to build a mixture of apartments, duplexes, and terraced, semi-detached and detached houses of two storeys.

There will be 517 apartments in total –123 one-beds, 378 two-beds and 60 three-beds across eight blocks varying in height from four to seven storeys.

There will be 517 apartments in total across eight blocks varying in height from four to seven storeys. Credit: Plus Architecture Ltd

There will be 517 apartments in total across eight blocks varying in height from four to seven storeys. Credit: Plus Architecture Ltd

They will be divided into three sections – the largest being Blocks A1, A2, A3 and A4 with 10 one-bed apartments, 202 two-beds and 24 three-beds in four to six-storey apartments.

These are followed by Blocks B1 and B2 with 55 one-beds, 80 two-beds and 12 three-beds, and finally Block C1 and C2 with 36 one-beds, 78 two-beds and 20 three-beds and finally Blocks C1 and C2 with

Of the 155 houses, six are two-bedroom houses, 69 are three-beds, 74 are four-beds and four are five-beds.

The dwellings will be constructed on lands bordered by agriculturally zoned lands on the east and south, west of the Iarnrod Eireann rail line and north of other residential developments.

Developers have also proposed alterations to two roundabouts on the R147 Old Navan Road to accommodate the new dwellings.

There will be 517 apartments in total across eight blocks varying in height from four to seven storeys. Credit: Plus Architecture Ltd

Of the 155 houses, six are two-bedroom houses, 69 are three-beds, 74 are four-beds and four are five-beds. Credit: Plus Architecture Ltd

Applicants Azra Property Company Limited submitted plans to Meath County Council on September 1.

The council are expected to reach a decision on the development by the end of this month, October 26.

Feature Image Credit: Plus Architecture Ltd

Sep 18
0
Feature Image Credit: Graham Construction

Official Sod Turning Takes Place For First Build-To-Rent Apartments in Belfast

By | Industry News

The official sod turning has taken place for the development of £117 million apartments in Belfast.

While preparatory construction work gas began on site in July, the main contractor Graham Construction has officially started work on the site which will deliver 778 apartments in the Titanic Quarter of the city.

Developers Watkin Jones held a ceremony on September 12 to mark the beginning of the first Build To Rent scheme in Northern Ireland.

Known as The Loft Lines, it will house 627 Build to Rent apartments alongside 151 affordable homes (for Clanmil Housing Association) across three different buildings.

Forward funded by Legal & General, they will include studios, one-bed, two-beds and three-beds on the 3.8-acre site.

Credit: Todd Architects

The official sod turning has taken place for the development of £117 million apartments in Belfast. Credit: Todd Architects

Each block will provide a shared external amenity courtyard on the first floor and another amenity space at the roof level.

There will also be lounges, cinema rooms, sports and recreational spaces and children’s play areas for the apartments.

In a ‘resident first’ approach, cyclists and pedestrians will be prioritised over cars which includes bike storage with wash down and repair facilities as well as covered storage for visitors’ cycles.

The scheme was brought forward by a development partnership of Watkin Jones PLC, Pirrie Belfast Limited and Lacuna Developments.

While securing approval to go-ahead in October last year, construction was delayed due to the financial climate.

Credit: Todd Architects

Known as The Loft Lines, it will house 627 Build to Rent apartments alongside 151 affordable homes (for Clanmil Housing Association) across three different buildings. Credit: Todd Architects

Speaking at the ceremony marking the dawn of construction, Group Investment Director for Watkin Jone George Dyer hailed the Titanic Quarter as an area ‘steeped in rich history’.

“Transforming this brownfield site into a thriving place to live and acting as a catalyst for wider regeneration,” he said with the backdrop of the Titanic Museum behind him.

“The development is being brought to fruition by a partnership approach between all stakeholders and funders and we are grateful for the genuine collaboration we have experienced with our partners. This event demonstrates the progress the teams are making for the city of Belfast.”

Anthony Best, Managing Director of Lacuna Developments, said it was ‘fantastic’ to see the development come to life.

Feature Image Credit: Graham Construction

Speaking at the ceremony marking the dawn of construction, Group Investment Director for Watkin Jone George Dyer hailed the Titanic Quarter as an area ‘steeped in rich history’. Credit: Graham Construction

“Along with public realm, retail for the wider TQ community and a creche which the scheme will deliver, it is hugely exciting to be involved in the event.”

Completion of the apartments is expected in late 2025.

Feature Image Credit: Graham Construction

Sep 11
0

Construction of 1200 homes begins in Donabate

By | Industry News

Work has begun on the €264 million residential development at Ballymastone, Donabate.

Construction of the first 432 has commenced in the first phase of the development in north county Dublin.

The first batch of homes will be delivered by H2 2024 with developers anticipating the first phase to be completed by H2 2025.

At 28 hectares, the project will provide up to 1200 homes – one of the largest residential developments in the country.

Of these homes, 60% will be private housing, 20% will be affordable housing and 20% will be social housing.

Credit: Fingal County Council

Work has begun on the €264 million, 1200-home development at Ballymastone, Donabate — one of the largest residential developments in the country. Credit: Fingal County Council

More than 11% of the site will be reserved for public open spaces with small parks and pocket parks close to the housing.

The scheme will also include other community facilities such as creches, EV charging points, and improved transport links.

Fingal County Council councillors voted through the development 31 votes to 9 on May 25, 2025.

In January 24 2022, Glenveagh Living Limited was awarded the contract.

Speaking at the sod-turning on August 25, Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien welcomed the site as a “significant” provider of private, social and affordable housing for north county Dublin.

“As we work towards achieving the targets outlined under the Housing For All plan, developments such as this will alleviate some of the pressure on the housing market and provide quality and sustainable homes for families, young people and the wider community,” he said.

Chief Executive of Glenveagh, Stephen Garvey hailed the development as a “landmark partnership for the community of Donabate and Portrane.

Credit: Fingal County Council

Speaking at the sod-turning on August 25, Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien welcomed the site as a “significant” provider of private, social and affordable housing for north county Dublin. Credit: Fingal County Council

“We have gotten to a place where we can now deliver 1,200 energy-efficient, sustainable, and high-quality homes for over 3000 people, alongside a world-class hub of recreational and sporting facilities for the people of Donabate, Portrane and the entire community,” he said.

“Our job at Glenveagh is to create vibrant, flourishing communities across Ireland, and we will continue to work collaboratively with Fingal County Council and the Government to deliver these homes and recreational facilities as quickly as we can, to ensure that thousands of people can call Balmoston and the wider community of Donabate and Portrane their home for generations to come.”

Feature Image Credit: Fingal County Council

Aug 22
0

Work on €124m Strategic Housing Development in Cork commences

By | Industry News

Work has officially begun for the expansive €124 million Strategic Housing Development (SHD) in Co Cork.

Construction commenced in late July, three years after initial approval for the scheme.

Developer Longview Estates Ltd is set to deliver 753 new homes on the site at Lahardane and Ballincolly.

Of these dwellings, 531 will be houses and 222 are apartments.

Granted seven-year permission from An Bord Pleanala, construction will take place during a series of phases with the aim of six neighbourhoods to be built in total.

There will be 67 no. detached houses, including 31 four-beds and 36 three-beds.

Credit: Arko Visualisation

Credit: Arko Visualisation

Semi-detached make up the bulk of the houses of 278 – 41 four-beds and 237 three-beds.

Plans also envision 186 terraced houses, 18 four-beds, 96 three-beds and 72 two-beds.

In regards to the apartments, there will be 69 duplexes – including 36 three-beds and 33 two-beds.

For the other 153 apartments, six are studios, 42 are one-beds, 79 are two-beds and 26 are three-beds.

The apartments will be built across three blocks, two in Neighbour 6 and one in Neighbourhood 2.

Aside from residential units, there are provisions for a local centre including two retail units, a crèche, a doctor’s surgery and a community use unit.

Credit: Horgan Carroll

Credit: Horgan Carroll

The development includes a number of open spaces and play areas as well as general landscaping, boundary treatments (including walls and landscaping to the houses to the north and lands to the east), and landscaped parkland/greenway.

Two vehicular accesses will be set up from the Ballyhooly Read and from the local road to the north of the site – this will see local road widening within applicant lands, resurfacing and boundary works.

Signalisation will occur on the Lower Dublin Hill and Ballyhooly Road Junction as well as a new bus stop on the eastern side of Ballyjollly Road.

New pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure will be drawn along the eastern side of the Ballyhooly Road with a crossing of the same close to Mervue Lawn South.

Planning was granted by An Bord Pleanala on May 27, 2020 subject to 31 conditions.

In their decision report, ABP found that the development will have a “positive impact” on population and “will comply with the national target for the expansion of major cities”.

“Impact on human health will be neutral in the long-term.”

Feature Image Credit: Arko Visualisation

Aug 11
0
Credit: Todd Architects

Work begins for £117m 778 new homes in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter

By | Industry News

Work is underway for the construction of 778 new homes in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter.

Preparatory construction work began in July for the £117 million development, right beside the city’s most popular tourist attraction Titanic Belfast.

The Loft Lines will provide Belfast’s first ever ”build-to-rent” apartments, alongside social housing, with the website stating that they have learnt from the “Swiss approach to living”.
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On a 3.8 acre site, the apartments will be split among three buildings and will include studios, one-bed, two-beds and three-beds.

Internal and external amenity spaces are in current provisions – including spaces for co-working and leisure.

Each block will provide a shared external amenity courtyard on the first floor and another amenity space at roof level.

Credit: Todd Architects

Credit: Todd Architects

Flexible commercial and community floor space has been reserved for convenience stores with a hot food counter, a cafe, a bar and a restaurant.

In regards to public realm changes, both a public recreational square and a waterfront promenade skirting along the River Lagan are planned for the development, situated on Queen’s Island.

Cycle and car parking will be provided with developers stating their intention to “prioritise pedestrians and bikes over cars” – this includes bike storage with wash down and repair facilities and covered storage for visitors’ cycles.

Although applicants Lacuna Developments, Watkin Jones PLC and Pirrie Belfast Limited secured approval in April 2022, it was announced in October that commencement would be delayed until “at least spring 2023” due to the financial climate.

By June of this year, a contract was awarded to Graham Construction and construction has now officially begun.

Completion of the apartments is expected in late 2025.

Credit: @niplanner

Credit: @niplanner

All private apartments will be run by an onsite management team and monthly rent payments will include gym and wi-fi.

On The Loft Lines website, the development has been hailed as a “new way of living for people of all ages, incomes and occupations”.

“It’s a fully managed site of private, affordable and social homes surrounded by walkways, boulevards, a park and an urban woodland. It’s a place where lifestyle is scaled up.”

Feature Image Credit: Todd Architects 

Jul 28
0

Construction underway for €66m, 276 unit housing development in Cork

By | Industry News

Construction of the €66 million Strategic Housing Development (SHD) in Ardrostig and Waterfall Road, Co Cork has officially kicked off.

This month, work began on the building of 28 homes at Ardarostig, Waterfall Road, Co Cork.

These are the first of 276 residential units planned at the site – 136 houses, 99 apartments and 40 duplexes.

Of the houses, there are set to be 40 two-storey, three-bedroom semi-detached houses, 12 two-storey, three-bedroom detached houses, 56 two-storey, three-bedroom terraced houses, 14 two-storey, four-bedroom semi-detached houses and 15 three-storey, four-bedroom terraced houses.

The apartments and duplexes will be across seven blocks ranging from three to five storeys with a total of 54 one-bed apartments, 65 two-beds and 20 three-beds.

One block (Block 5 in plans) is to provide a café (147 sq. m) fronting Waterfall Road at ground floor level.

Credit: 3D Design Bureau

This month, work began on the building of 28 homes at Ardarostig, Waterfall Road, Co Cork of the of the €66 million Strategic Housing Development (SHD). Credit: 3D Design Bureau

As part of the development, a single-storey creche (271 sq. m) is included in the plans.

The development will also provide new vehicular access and pedestrian entrances onto Waterfall Road, a two-way cycle track and pedestrian footpath.

Provisions have been made for a road to extend the existing pedestrian pathway, a pelican crossing on Waterfall Road and an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing at the Heiton Buckley/Audi Cork entrance junction to the site.

Developers Ardstone Homes Limited had put forward a planning application for the SHD in May 2021, with approval granted with conditions in September of that year.

An Bord Pleanála ruled that although granting permission to the site “would materially contravene specific local objective SE-R-10 in permitting a density of 38.7 units per hectares, in excess of the Medium B densitv range outlined in the Local Area Plan”, it would be justified due to the “national importance” in its delivery of building housing and the Project Ireland National Planning Framework.

Nearly two years on from the approval date, work officially started on July 20 this year.

Feature Image Credit: 3D Design Bureau

Jun 02
0
Credit: Henry J Lyons Architects

Construction of 570 new homes at former Irish Glass Bottle site begins

By | Industry News

The construction of nearly 600 new apartments has begun at the former Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend, Dublin 4.

Phase 1 of the €140m Apartment Developments plan, submitted by a consortium of Ronan Group Real Estate, Lioncor Development, Oaktree Capital Ireland Ltd and Pembroke Beach DAC, kicked off in late May.

This phase of the ‘Pembroke Quarter’ plan will see the building of the mixed commercial and residential Blocks K, M and O on a site of 15.3 hectares (adjacent to Sean Moore Road and Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA club).

With 570 apartments in total, there are set to be 83 three-beds, 277 two-beds, 177 one-beds and 33 studio apartments.

While the majority will be privately owned or build-to-rent units, one-quarter of these units have been allocated for social and affordable housing.

Credit: Henry J Lyons Architects

Phase 1 of the €140m Apartment Developments plan, submitted by a consortium of Ronan Group Real Estate, Lioncor Development, Oaktree Capital Ireland Ltd and Pembroke Beach DAC, kicked off in late May. Credit: Henry J Lyons Architects

Blocks K, M and O are set to be built over a single-storey basement and consist of four buildings in total (Block M will comprise of two separate structures: a larger block and a smaller townhouse block).

A commercial element is also included with Block K to provide a childcare facility, two retail units and a café restaurant on the ground floor.

The site will provide 916 bicycle parking spaces and 166 car parking spaces.

As the first phase of the Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone Planning Scheme, this construction begins the development of the ‘new suburb’.

The consortium is looking to transform the dockland site which has remained vacant since the glass bottle factory’s closure in 2002.

The project hopes to deliver around 3,800 homes in total as well as 1 million square feet of commercial space, community amenities, schools, parks and open space.

‘Our ambition is to transform the former brownfield lands into a vibrant, integrated urban neighbourhood within walking distance of Dublin city centre; a new city quarter at Dublin Bay,’ the Ronan Group website reads.

Credit: Glassbottle.ie

The Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone Planning Scheme,hopes to deliver around 3,800 homes in total as well as 1 million square feet of commercial space, community amenities, schools, parks and open space. Credit: Glassbottle.ie

While Dublin City Council approved Phase One in March of last year, subsequent phases of the project will be subject to their own separate planning applications.

Planners expect that the development in total will take about a decade to complete.

Feature image credit: Henry J Lyons Architects

May 26
0
Credit: PM Group

Green light for AztraZeneca’s €37million extension to Blanchardstown plant

By | Industry News

AstraZeneca had received approval for their €37 million plan to extend their manufacturing plant in Blanchardstown.

Fingal County Council gave the go-ahead for the ‘next generation’ expansion submitted by AstraZeneca’s subsidiary Alexion Pharma Operations International Ltd.

The development includes a brand new five-storey Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufacturing building at their 18.5-hectare site at College Business & Technology Park.

In support of this new manufacturing building, a new two-storey chemical materials store, a new four-storey laboratory building and a medium voltage electrical building will be constructed.

There are also provisions for extensions to the existing warehouse building, including alterations which were previously permitted.

Two yards are to be installed – the first, a chemical material yard, including a liquid nitrogen storage tank, scrubbers and a thermal oxidiser abatement unit.

The other a manufacturing building utilities yard including chillers and other miscellaneous plant and equipment.

There will be an extension to the existing high-level pipe rack connecting all existing and new buildings and yard areas and two new diesel generators and storage tanks.

Further modifications to the site were given the seal of approval, including the attrition of 200 new car park spaces on the eastern side of the site and the expansion of the site’s existing stormwater attenuation/fire water retention pond.

The development is projected to generate 105 additional jobs for the Alexion Biopharmaceutical Campus.

In documents submitted with the planning application, the development is scheduled to take 25 months for construction with hopes it will be fully operational from the first quarter of 2026.

The environmental impact statement (EIS) stated that the facility would use “the latest technology, ideas and digital innovation to meet the needs of the Alexion’s developing portfolio and produce life-saving medicine for patients worldwide”.

No objections were lodged against the proposal and the council approved the plans this month subject to 19 conditions.

Feature image credit: PM Group

Apr 26
0
G-Net 3D

UCC gets approval for €42m new Cork Business School

By | Industry News

Cork City Council has approved plans for a €42 million extension to University College Cork (UCC).

Plans will see the transformation of the 0.66ha site on Copley Street, South Terrace, Union Quay and Stable Lane into a brand new home for Cork University Business School (CUBS), relocating over 4,000 students and 200 staff into the city centre.

The development will see the demolition of all buildings to make way for the construction of a structure ranging from three to six storeys in height. 

G-Net 3D

Plans will see the transformation of the 0.66ha site on Copley Street, South Terrace, Union Quay and Stable Lane into a brand new home for Cork University Business School (CUBS), relocating over 4,000 students and 200 staff into the city centre. Credit: G-Net 3D

It will include lecture theatres, academic offices, study and teaching areas, a restaurant and service rooms, a coffee dock and storage areas for bicycles.

The site on 18 and 19 South Terrace will be renovated to provide both a cafe and a study space, demolishing the two-storey rear extension and boundary wall at 18 South Terrace in the process.

Landscaping provisions are also in place to build a courtyard garden accessed via South Terrace, with a rooftop terrace and a rooftop garden.

G-Net 3D

The development will see the demolition of all buildings to make way for the construction of a building ranging from three to six storeys in height. Credit: G-Net 3D

In regards to the public realm, the footpath on Coley Street will be widened, a pedestrian crossing at the western end of Copley Street is planned and existing car parking spaces on Copley Street are set to be realigned for a mobility access space and loading bay.

In its application statement, agent ​​McCutcheon Halley Chartered Planning Consultants stated that the campus would help the city “to develop and compete on an international scale and to accommodate the projected 50-60% increase in its population up to 2040”.

Submitted in December 2022, UCC sought to change the site’s use from builder’s providers/storage to educational use.

Cork City Council granted permission subject to conditions on April 18.

Feature Image Credit: G-Net 3D

Apr 06
0
Credit: 3D Design Bureau

Construction begins of 569 new homes in Clonburris, Co Dublin

By | Industry News

The construction of 569 new homes for a new neighbourhood in Clonburris, South County Dublin has commenced.

The €128.1m development will provide 569 dwellings in total as well as a creche, an innovation hub and open space.

The project is the first phase of the Clonburris South West Development Area of the Clonburris SDZ Planning Scheme 2019.

Following An Bord Pleanala’s approval of Cairn Homes Property Limited’s submission last year, construction has kicked off on a 4-storey multi-use building – containing a two-storey creche, a two-storey office and part single-storey flexible community space.

Following this, 396 duplex and regular apartment units are planned to go ahead, arranged in blocks ranging in height from four to six storeys.

Clonburris SDZ

The €128.1m development will provide 569 dwellings in total as well as a creche, an innovation hub and open space. Credit: 3D Design Bureau

Block One will have 172 units, comprising 76 one-bedroom, 91 two-bedroom and 5 three-bedroom apartments in a two-building arrangement reaching six storeys in height.

Block 2 and Block 3 will only be four storeys and will both provide 16 one-bedroom and 22 two-bedroom apartments.

A further 148 duplex apartments are planned, comprising 74 two-bedroom and 74 three-bedroom units across 16 three-storey buildings.

All apartments will have a terrace or balcony.

Plans will also see the building of 173 houses – comprising eight two-bedroom houses, 153 three-bedroom houses and 12 four-bedroom houses.

All houses are set to be two storeys in height and vary in semi-detached, terraced, end-terrace units. All will provide parking and private open space.

Clonburris SDZ

The lands of Clonburris, close to Clondalkin and Lucan, have been designated as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) by the Government. Pic: Clonburris.ie

The first major new street ‘South Link Street’ will also be constructed.

The lands of Clonburris, close to Clondalkin and Lucan, have been designated as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) by the Government.

Located just 13km away from Dublin City Centre, it’s predominantly greenfield land.

Last year, the Government announced intentions to deliver over 8,700 new homes in the area and approved €186 million of funding approved for the new neighbourhood.

So far, 944 new homes have been granted planning permission as part of the scheme with South Dublin City Council set to commence the construction of 381 social and affordable homes in summer 2023.

Speaking at the official commencement of work on the site in February, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said: “Clonburris is a prime example of a sustainable neighbourhood, and the state is investing substantial funds to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place, this includes parks, community buildings and active travel works. In the future, there will be some 23,000 people living here and enjoying all the amenities.”

Feature Image Credit: 3D Design Bureau