Maxol given green light to build 90 homes in place of D4 petrol station
FORECOURT retailer Maxol has been given the go-ahead to knock down one of its petrol stations and an adjoining car dealership in south Dublin and replace it with a five-storey apartment block.
The company, which is owned by the McMullan family, faced objections to its proposed development of 90 apartments along Beach Road in Sandymount, Dublin 4. The proposal was put forward by Thomas McMullan, who sits on the board of Maxol.
The 11,500sqm development will be made up of 23 one-bed units, 53 two-beds, and a further 14 three-bed homes. Maxol will also provide 90 parking spaces and 90 cycle spaces for residents. Dublin City Council granted permission to build in June, but opposition from residents and a local school meant that the issue was escalated to An Bord Pleanala.
Objectors cited problems with the design of the building and the effect it would have on the “integrity of the neighbourhood”.
They also raised concerns that it would overlook other properties.
One such property is St Matthew’s National School, which raised concerns around the safety of its students.
In the planning board’s report, it said that overlooking into the school was “reasonable because natural surveillance of play areas in schemes is encouraged in the apartment guidelines”. An Bord Pleanala approved the scheme under a number of conditions, including an obligation on Maxol to gain approval for any external finishes.
The Sandymount development was the first time Maxol had decided to use a site for housing instead of a forecourt. The company has since sought permission for residential development at another site in Saggart in south-west Dublin.