DCC criticised the quality of the apartment scheme in a letter it sent to the applicants, Brimwood UC, in which it also requested revised plans and a reduction in the number of units proposed.
In July, Brimwood UC lodged plans to convert the property at No 15, Usher’s Island, Dublin 8 into 10 apartments made up of seven one-bed units and three studios.
Brimwood UC is a firm owned by Séamus McEnaney, the former Monaghan inter-county football manager. Last year Brimwood UC received more than €30m for housing International Protection (IP) applicants and Ukrainians in Government contracts.
Séamus McEnaney. Photo: Sportsfile
An Taisce is also objecting to the Usher’s Island scheme, while a separate submission by Zoe Obeimhen – accompanied by a petition signed by 1,675 people – is also calling on DCC to refuse planning permission.
Now, in its request for further information, DCC has told the firm that some of its planned units are sub-standard, in terms of apartment minimum floor areas and individual room areas and widths.
DCC has requested Brimwood UC to submit revised drawings that show a redesign of the proposal which will reduce the number of units proposed in the scheme, preferably to one unit per floor.
The letter from the council states that it notes in particular that “units 1, 6 and 8 are of low quality and consider that they should be amalgamated with Unit 2 at basement level, unit 5 at first floor level and unit 7 at second floor level”.
The planning report into the proposal states that notwithstanding the flexibility for standards within building refurbishment schemes, “the overall quality of the residential development is generally poor”.
The DCC Conservation Officer has recommended that the number of residential units be reduced from 10 to five.
The planning report states that the Conservation Officer “has expressed serious concerns regarding the proposed subdivision of the subject protected structure into 10 units – and the proposed arrangements as currently presented would not be supported”.
Planning permission for a tourist hostel is in place until July 2026 and the council planner’s report states that due to the transient nature of hostel accommodation with subsequent wear and tear, the permanent residential accommodation proposed “has potential to be a less-intensive use”.