Residents of Foxrock, one of Dublin's most exclusive suburbs, say their area is "under siege" by property developers seeking to replace its fine homes with blocks of luxury apartments.
They want Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to designate Foxrock as an architectural conservation area, similar to the Burnaby estate in Greystones, Co Wicklow, to preserve its "Arcadian landscape".
Though the residents took heart from a recent decision by An Bord Pleanála to overturn planning permission for high-density apartments at Grove House on Hainault Road, they saw this as "just the latest chapter in an ongoing battle". The battle is being fought by Foxrock Area Development Ltd (FADL), formed by local residents and traders to defend the area from "the encroachment of intensive development" - particularly purpose-built apartment blocks.
Along with the Burnaby estate in Greystones, according to the campaigners, Foxrock survives as one of the few examples in Ireland of the Arcadian style, typified by fine houses set in large well-kept gardens.
Its intimate scale and sense of community, they say, is reinforced by Foxrock village, a thriving small business centre whose shopkeepers want it to stay that way.
Foxrock originally grew as a "garden city" after the Harcourt Street railway line opened in 1859. Its early development was characterised by substantial houses on their own grounds, often with croquet lawns and tennis courts.
The area was much sought-after, particularly in the late 19th century. As Anthony Cronin recalled in his biography of Samuel Beckett, comedian Jimmy O'Dea once joked that Rathgar was "a purgatory for souls awaiting the heaven of Foxrock".
Cooldrinagh, the Tudor-style house where Beckett grew up, was built in 1903, well set back from Kerrymount Avenue amid mature gardens. In the playwright's childhood, lemon verbena grew around its hall door.
Given Foxrock's origins, the local residents and traders say it would be ironic if the proposed extension of the Sandyford Luas line to Cherrywood was used as an "excuse to allow vested interests to destroy its historical character".
With the aid of Mr Fergall Kenny, a planning consultant who has lived and worked in the area for years, FADL made a submission to DúLaoghaire-Rathdown County Council calling for Foxrock to be given conservation status.
Though it pointed out that Wicklow County Council had already designated the Burnaby in Greystones as a conservation area, councillors did not extend the same status to Foxrock when they adopted the new county plan.
Unless councillors amend the plan, the residents fear that several fine houses on large sites in the area will be "slated for intensification" - in other words, demolition and redevelopment - destroying the essential ambience of Foxrock.
Mr Eamon Clarkin, a spokesman for FADL said: "Bluntly, if they refuse conservation status, its Arcadian character will undoubtedly be eroded, as each successive property in the area comes up for sale over time."
Two years ago, after a protracted dispute between local residents and a developer, An Bord Pleanála granted permission to demolish Hollybrook, a period house on Brighton Road, and erect 43 apartments on the site.
A recent application for a 1.5-acre site on Westminster Road would replace another fine house with 10 town houses.
