Full Notice

University College Dublin intends to apply to An Bord Pleanála for permission for a strategic housing development at this site University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 (main site generally bounded by UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business and UCD Sutherland School of Law to the north, Merville Student Residence to the east, Ashfield Student Residence & Belgrove Student Residence to the west, extending to Foster’s Avenue to the east and including Roebuck Castle (Protected Structure), Crannog Lodge and Glebe Lodge (Protected Structure) to the south, together with two separate land parcels located to the south-west of Belgrove Student Residence and to the north-east of Merville Student Residence).

The development will consist of a Student Accommodation development with an overall gross floor area (GFA) of approximately 98,275sqm (over a partial basement of 21,437sqm) providing a total of 3,006 no. residential bedspaces (as a mix of apartments, halls of residence and studios) and including complementary supporting accommodation and retail and retail services space. 

A 10 year permission is being sought. 

The proposed development consists of: 

• Demolition of the following buildings (totalling 5,291sqm) in the vicinity of Roebuck Castle (Protected Structure): Roebuck Offices (former Residence Building); modern extension to Roebuck Castle (a Protected Structure); Southern Courtyard Range; former Chapel; outbuildings and an academic building (UCD Confucius Institute building);
   
• No further works are proposed to Roebuck Castle (a Protected Structure), Glebe Lodge (a Protected Structure), and Crannog Lodge.
   
• Construction of Student Accommodation arranged in 7 no. blocks as follows:
  • Block A: total GFA of approximately 15,246sqm, ranging in height from 5 to 7 no. storeys generally with a 10 no. storey corner element and comprising 75 no. apartments with 478 no. bedspaces together with 2 no. retail services units (approximately 172sqm and 76sqm respectively) and 1 no. café unit (approximately 152sqm) at ground floor level; 
  • Block B: total GFA of approximately 12,009sqm, ranging in height from 5 to 7 no. storeys and comprising 67 no. apartments with 390 no. bedspaces
  • Block C: total GFA of approximately 11,970sqm, ranging in height from 5 to 7 no. storeys and comprising 57 no. apartments with 386 no. bedspaces;
  • Block D: total GFA of approximately 12,973sqm, ranging in height from 6 to 7 no. storeys generally with a 10 no. storey corner element and comprising 49 no. apartments and 12 no. Halls of Residence with 452 no. bedspaces;
  • Block E: total GFA of approximately 12,023sqm, ranging in height from 5 to 7 no. storeys and comprising 67 no. apartments with 412 no. bedspaces; 
  • Block F: is arranged as 3 no distinct buildings and provides a total GFA of approximately 25,604sqm, ranging in height generally from 6 to 8 no. storeys with a 10 no. storey corner element and comprising 111 no. apartments and 12 no. Halls of Residence and 1 no. Studio Apartment with 828 no. bedspaces together with and 1 no. café/retail unit (approximately 171sqm) at ground floor level;
  • Fulcrum Building: total GFA of approximately 8,450sqm, ranging in height from 2 to 7 no. storeys and comprising 60 no. studio apartments with 60 no. bedspaces together with complementary student facilities including Auditorium with approximately 290 no. seats (327sqm); Dining Hall (approximately 144 no. seats) and Food Hall (1114sqm); 4 no. retail units (approximately 98sqm each); 1 no. Convenience Store (approximately 367sqm), Fitness Suite (443sqm), Student’s Health and Well-being Centre (265sqm), UCD Residents’ Contact Centre (378qm); and, ancillary facilities. 

All blocks include ancillary Student Accommodation facilities including lounge areas; study rooms; laundry facilities. 

• Minor realignment of existing access road from the Owenstown entrance to the main internal circulation route.
•  Provision of 994 no. car parking spaces comprising: 637 no. spaces at basement level; 32 no. surface spaces within the Student Accommodation Scheme; extension of existing park to the south-west of Belgrove Student Residence by 225 no. surface spaces on a site and provision of 100 no. surface spaces adjacent to UCD Sutherland School of Law.
• Provision of 2,104 no. bicycle parking spaces comprising 510 no. spaces at basement level and 1,594 no. surface spaces 
• The provision of a new, temporary construction access onto Foster’s Avenue, associated junction works, and associated construction parking (approximately 200 no. cars) for the duration of the construction period.
• Widening of the footpath on Roebuck Road including for the removal of the existing boundary wall and provision of a new plinth wall with railing on top (overall height unchanged at c.2 m), and enhanced public realm landscaping within the curtilage of the site.
• Provision of 3 no. double electricity substations each with a 1.1 MW capacity.
• All associated and ancillary landscaping works; boundary treatments; water, wastewater and surface water works; and, site and development works. 

The application contains a statement setting out how the proposal will be consistent with the objectives of the relevant Development Plan. 

An Environmental Impact Assessment Report has been prepared in respect of the proposed development. 

The application, together with an Environmental Impact Assessment Report, may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, during public opening hours at the offices of An Bord Pleanála and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. The application may also be inspected online at the following website set up by the applicant: www.ucdplanning.ie

Any person may, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by An Bord Pleanála of the application and on payment of the prescribed fee of €20 (except for certain prescribed bodies), make a submission or observation in writing to An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, relating to the implications of the proposed development, if carried out, for proper planning and sustainable development in the area or areas concerned and the likely effects on the environment or the likely effects on a European site, as the case may be, of the proposed development, if carried out.  Submissions or observations duly made will be considered by An Bord Pleanála in making a decision on the application.  Such submissions or observations must also include the following information: 
(a)    The name of the person, authority or body making the submission or observations, the name of the person, if any, acting on behalf of that person, authority or body, and the address to which any correspondence relating to the application should be sent,
(b)    The subject matter of the submission or observations, and 
(c)    The reasons, considerations and arguments on which the submission or observations is or are based. 

An Bord Pleanála may grant permission for the strategic housing development as proposed, or may grant permission subject to such modifications as it specifies in its decision, or may grant permission in part only, with or without any other modifications it may specify in its decision, or may refuse to grant permission for the proposed development.  An Bord Pleanála may attach to a grant of permission such conditions as it considers appropriate. 

Any enquiries relating to the application process should be directed to the Strategic Housing Development Section of An Bord Pleanála (Tel. 01-8588100).

A person may question the validity of a decision of An Bord Pleanála by way of an application for judicial review, under Order 84 of the Rules of the Superior Courts (S.I. No. 15 of 1986), in accordance with sections 50 and 50A of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (No. 30 of 2000), as amended.

Practical information on the review mechanism can be found in the Judicial Review Notice on the An Bord Pleanála’s website: www.pleanala.ie or on the Citizens Information Service website: www.citizensinformation.ie