Denis O’Brien-backed firm gets go-ahead for €50m project in D4

Decision granted to enable Gibraltar registered Purleigh Holdings build 71 apartments

Property firm is backed by billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Property firm is backed by billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

A group of Dublin 4 residents have failed in their bid to block plans by a property firm backed by businessman Denis O’Brien from building a €50 million luxury apartment development in Donnybrook.

This follows An Bord Pleanála's decision giving the go-ahead to Gibraltar registered Purleigh Holdings Ltd to build 71 apartments in five stand-alone white pavilion blocks at Greenfield in Dublin 4.

In 2010, it was reported that the 3.3 acre Greenfield site was swapped with UCD for land beside the university’s Belgrove student residences and a reported €12.5 million in cash.

Dublin City Council greenlighted the scheme despite 18 separate objections lodged against the plan, including three objections from local residents' groups.

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The 30 residents of adjoining Nutley Square appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála through their management firm, Nutley Square Management Company, along with the Greenfield Park Residents Group and Brenda Fives and others.

In its ruling, the board gave the plan the go-ahead having regard to this zoning objective, the nature and scale of the proposed development and to the character and pattern of existing and permitted development in the vicinity of the site.

The board said that subject to compliance with the conditions, the proposed development would not seriously injure the residential or other amenities of the area and would not be prejudicial to public health.

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan is a contributor to The Irish Times