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Industry News

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

Mar 09
0
Credit: OCA Architects

Student village in Limerick gets the go-ahead

By | Industry News

An Bord Pleanála has given the green light for a new student village in Limerick city.

Last December, Cloncaragh Investments Ltd put forward plans for 30 build-to-rent apartments and another 68 separate apartments at the junction of Punches Cross, with 104 bedspaces in total.

The construction will see the initial demolition of all existing derelict structures on the site.

A street-front four-storey plus recessed penthouse (culminating in six storeys) will be erected in its place.

Operating as student accommodation, the first building will have 54 apartments in the arrangement of 3,4,5,and 6-bedroom configurations.

It will also offer communal facilities including dining rooms, social activity rooms which could provide a gym and cinema/games room.

Credit: OCA Architects

Last December, Cloncaragh Investments Ltd put forward plans for 30 build-to-rent apartments and another 68 separate apartments at the junction of Punches Cross, with 104 bedspaces in total. Credit: OCA Architects

Two ancillary retail units 105.6m2 and 99m2 are also proposed for the building as well as a reception and social areas on the ground and first floor.

Another building to the rear of the courtyard is also planned.

Measuring up to five plus penthouse to seven, it will have 14 student apartments in 5 bedroom configuration. A further 30 build-to rent apartments are also in the apartment – 10 one-beds, 18 two-beds and two three-beds.

At the basement level, more social activity rooms are envisioned which would be suitable for yoga, aerobics and general social use.

Laundry facilities, a total of 76 car spaces for apartments, staff and visitors, a storage area for 326 student bikes and a further separate storage for 50 more bicycles.

Credit: OCA Architects

Operating as student accommodation, the first building will have 54 apartments in the arrangement of 3,4,5,and 6-bedroom configurations. Credit: OCA Architects

In courtyard gardens of 1,486m2, there will be spaces for 48 bicycles and a separate rear courtyard garden of 450m2.

An Bord Pleanála (ABP) approved Cloncaragh Investments Ltd’s bid subject to 29 conditions.

This includes that the 68 apartments will only be used for students in third-level education.

The car parking layout must be resubmitted and allow up to 50 cars to park on the site.

The communal open spaces must be maintained by a management company.

And a minimum of 10% of car parking spaces must provide an electric vehicle charging station.

This is the third time Cloncaragh Investments Ltd have put forward applications to build on the long-vacant site.

Credit: OCA Architects

This is the third time Cloncaragh Investments Ltd have put forward applications to build on the long-vacant site. Credit: OCA Architects

Although ABP had initially quashed their first application, they gave the go-ahead in their second resubmission.

However, a challenge from Environment Trust Ireland (ETI) put this to a halt after argued that the site on the former quarry and petrol station was “contaminated” due to “corroded underground fuel storage tanks”.

High Court judge Mr Justice David Holland made the decision to reject ABP’s decision following failure to pass on a project submission to Limerick’s planning authority in a timely manner.

After recirculating the submission and reconsidering the application, ABP has once again given its approval.

Jan 17
0
John Sisk Son Limerick Freyne

John Sisk & Son awarded €65m contract for Limerick-Freyne freight line by Iarnrod Eireann

By | Industry News

John Sisk & Son has been awarded a €65 million contract by Iarnrod Eireann for the Limerick to Foynes freight rail line reinstation.

As part of Iarnród Éireann’s Rail Freight 2040 Strategy, the overall objective is to rehabilitate and renew the existing track and civil engineering infrastructure on the railway line.

Phase One of current plans will include earthworks, the installation of sleepers and rail (supplied by Irish Rail) and also the maintenance and renewal of bridges, culverts, fencing and the road infrastructure at public road level crossings.

Vegetation and existing track will also be removed and a new ballast-bed is required. Bridges along the route will also be made safe.

A further 13 level crossings along the route will also be renewed as well as boundary fencing and drainage.

The installation of service routes for future line signalling, telecoms infrastructure and level-crossing automation is also expected.

John Sisk Son Limerick Freyne

John Sisk & Son has been awarded a €65 million contract by Iarnrod Eireann for the Limerick to Foynes freight rail line reinstation. Pic: John Sisk & Son

Phase One is expected to take 18 months, with initial vegetation removal work commenced by John Sisk & Son in November of last year.

Phase Two will then see the provision of a signalling system for the route, CCTV-level crossings, trains communications systems and track connections and upgrades at Limerick and Foynes yard.

This work is due to be completed by 2025.

“There is real momentum behind the Foynes line reinstatement project. With Exchequer funding having been confirmed in November, we are delighted to be able to announce the contract award to Sisk just weeks later,” said Iarnród Éireann Chief Executive Jim Meade.

“In partnership, we look forward to bringing this critical, sustainable infrastructure to fruition, as we contribute to the decarbonisation goals for transport in Ireland.

Paul Brown, CEO of John Sisk & Son, expressed the company’s delight in delivering “more vital rail infrastructure”.

“At Sisk we are active across our business in delivering sustainable infrastructure and this line, initially being brought back into service for freight, is part of Iarnród Éireann’s Rail Freight 2040 Strategy, and the recently launched strategic review of the Shannon Foynes Port Company Masterplan, Vision 2041.

“It will bring back the connection between rail and ship services and promote sustainable transport by strengthening freight transport via rail and sea. We look forward to delivering this project in partnership with Iarnród Éireann and our supply chain partners.”

Originally opening in 1858, the 42km line retired passenger traffic in 1963.

Freight services continued until 2001.