Permission sought to build apartments in Harold’s Cross

Application brings number of new units planned or under construction in area to 600

A large-scale apartment development is being built on the grounds of Mount Argus Church in Harold’s Cross.
A large-scale apartment development is being built on the grounds of Mount Argus Church in Harold’s Cross.

Martin and John Smith are planning to demolish existing buildings – including a dry cleaners and a disused pub – at 69-73 Harold's Cross Road, Dublin 6W, to facilitate the construction of apartments in two blocks.

If built, the blocks would comprise four studio 42sq m (452sq ft), four one-bed 50sq m (538sq ft), six two-bed 72-74sq m (775-796sq ft) and three three-bed 102sq m (1,098sq ft) apartments in all – with each apartment having additional private balcony areas ranging in size from 4 to 8sq m (43sq ft-86sq ft).

As part of the application, the developers propose giving Dublin City Council four of the completed units, to satisfy their Part V social and affordable housing requirements.

In addition to the residential element, there would be two commercial retail units at ground-floor level, fronting onto the main road and a substantial basement with 18 car parking spaces and 20 bicycle spaces.

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The proposed development brings the number of new apartments currently planned or under construction in the Harold’s Cross area to over 600.

Developer Martin Lydon's Adroit Company is awaiting a decision from Dublin City Council for planning permission, to last eight years, in respect of its proposed development of 121 apartments in six blocks, a crèche and 134 basement parking spaces.

Individual buyers

If permitted, the development will necessitate the demolition of the existing Harold’s Bridge Court complex, which comprises 50 residential dwellings and a warehouse.

On the site of St Clare’s Convent, New Generation secured planning permission in 2015 for a proposed 209-unit apartment development, but construction of this development has not yet begun.

The same developer is well progressed with construction of a large-scale apartment development on the grounds of Mount Argus Church, to be named Mount Argus Mill, which will comprise 184 apartments.

A management company has been established for the complex, signalling that the apartments will be sold to individual buyers, as opposed to being retained as rentals.

Both the Mount Argus Mill site, and an adjoining monastery, were previously owned by the Larkin family’s Twinlite until they disposed of them in 2014. The monastery site has planning in place for the conversion of the existing period building into 32 apartments.

On Mount Tallant Avenue, Drogheda’s J Murphy Developments has planning in place for 27 apartments and 36 houses on the 3.44-acre St Pancras Works site, which will increase to 30 apartments if the council approves his latest application.