Almost 50 apartments approved for Kildare town 

PERMISSION has been granted to a Dublin-based firm to build 48 apartments on a 0.7Ha (1.75ac) site in Kildare town.

Eurkon (Kildare) Ltd were given the green light last week to build seven one-bed, 22 two-bed, and 19 three-bed apartments on a site at Oak Church on the Dunmurry Road in Bishopsland in three, three-storey blocks.

This is the third phase of development at this location, and 297 dwellings have already been built here since 2020, after a two-year wait since the application was originally submitted.

Only last year Eurkon was refused permission for 44 apartments on this very site for not providing adequate surface water drainage systems, and for wanting to put water attenuation storage structures under public spaces, a move contrary with Kildare’s County Development Plan (CDP).

Revised plan

However, Eurkon looked to have amended their design to the planner’s satisfaction, so much so that not even the county’s water service objected to the revised plan.

These apartments are within the remit of the Kildare Town Local Area Plan which has a target ofc 430 new homes in the town by 2028, and the area itself is zoned ‘New Residential’ in this Plan.

The planners wrote: 'The massing strategy avoids a monolithic form by separating the volume into three elements … and introducing various facades … and expansive glazing'.

'It is considered the overall massing and height of the duplex blocks at this location is generally acceptable,' said the council planner.

'The blocks will provide a streetscape (and) planting proposed for the front of the units will help soften the appearance of the development,' he added.

Within the CDP a density of 68 units per hectare is considered 'acceptable', and that 'pedestrian permeability through the site is noted'.

'The proposed three blocks respond well to the site context, and will provide a sense of place in the area,' said the planner.