Council approves 193 unit housing scheme in Kinsealy despite local opposition
Gordon Deegan
Fingal County Council has granted planning permission to the Land Development Agency (LDA) to construct 193 residential units on a site of the former Teagasc Research Centre at Malahide Road, Kinsealy, Dublin 17 despite local opposition.
The Council has granted planning permission to the LDA after concluding that the scheme “would provide a high quality new residential area and would be an excellent example of plan-led development”.
The 49-page Council planner’s report into the proposed Large-Scale Residential Development (LRD) also found that the scheme “thoroughly conforms to the planning framework provided for the area”.
The Council also concluded that the scheme “provides a satisfactory standard for residential amenity, would be acceptable in terms of urban design and quantum of development”.
The LDA lodged the plans in February after Teagasc agreed to transfer the lands to the LDA for the development of affordable housing in accordance with the LDA’s statutory mandate to accelerate the delivery of affordable new homes throughout Ireland.
The scheme comprises the construction of 193 residential dwellings comprising 153 two-storey houses and 40 duplex units arranged in three-storey blocks on a site located to the south of Kinsealy village centre and 4 km south-east of Swords.
The scheme also provides for 229 car parking spaces, 345 bicycle parking spaces and four acres of dedicated public open space while in addition, 5.4 acres of greenbelt zoned lands are included to the south and south-east of the residential development area to accommodate a playing pitch.
However, in response to the scheme, on behalf of the Kinsealy and Chapel Road Community Organisation, Sean Crawford told the council that "building more houses is not just the answer - it's about creating sustainable communities that can truly thrive".
He said that building the scheme without a comprehensive vision “will ultimately increase strain on current residents and diminish the quality of life throughout the growing communities of Fingal”.
Mr Crawford stated that the proposed three-story duplexes fundamentally violate the area's rural character and objectives of the Fingal Development Plan which explicitly safeguard rural aesthetics and require appropriate density and scale.
In his objection, David Bent from Gandon Lane, Kinsealy contended: “While I appreciate the need for new housing and development in our area, I have serious concerns regarding the lack of supporting infrastructure, which would significantly impact the safety and well-being of current and future residents.”
He said: “The local schools are already operating at or near full capacity. This development would place additional pressure on these institutions, limiting access to quality education for families moving into the area."
