Blackrock residents are opposing a proposed development of three-storey houses off Proby Square by O'Malley Homes and Development, because they say the design resembles an apartment block.

An Bord Pleanála has received six separate appeals, including one from Lindenvale Residents Association against planning permission granted by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for the scheme.

The proposal is to demolish the former McLysaght nursery buildings on the site and construct 27 three-storey houses.

This would include a mix of four-bedroom terraced, five-bedroom end-of-terrace and four-bedroom detached houses. O'Malley Homes, which bought the site last autumn, is also looking to provide 54 surface car-parking spaces on the rectangular two-acre site. Pedestrian access would be off Proby Square.

In its appeal to An Bord Pleanála, Lindenvale Residents Association says its estate, which adjoins the nursery, was built 28 years ago and would be affected by the development.

It contends that the proposed three-storey houses with balconies, which would be built on an elevated site, would overlook surrounding houses, be visually obtrusive and result in loss of privacy and overshadowing.

It says that the design bears "close resemblance" to an apartment block and asks the planning board to reduce the height, bulk and density in their planning conditions and that the houses are built a good distance away from Lindenvale's boundary fence. They also ask that the density be reduced and that a minimum green area of 10 per cent be stipulated as a condition of permission.

The appeals were mainly from residents of surrounding estates, like Oakley park and Avondale Court.

Other concerns include the proximity of the development to surrounding houses, the loss of skyline views and a lack of visitor car-parking.

One resident asked that the terraced nature of the development be changed to semi-detached or detached houses.