Over 1,100 housing units have been delayed in Dublin after a couple lodged an objection. 

Property giant Hines had submitted plans for a €646 million development on the site of the former Holy Cross College in Drumcondra. 

If approved, the company would build 268 studios, 282 one bed apartments, 392 two bed apartments, 132 three bed units and 57 four bed units in a part of the country where the housing crisis is acute. 

 “Looking through [the planning application], a local TD, [Labour’s] Deputy Sherlock, had recommended the grant - which is unusual,” Tom Philips of Tom Phillips and Associates explained to Newstalk Breakfast. 

“Even more unusually, An Taisce was positively disposed towards it. 

“So, all the signs were very, very good.” 

A man walking past 'For Sale' signs in Dublin. Picture by: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie.

However, the application has both detractors and supporters in the local community. 

“A number of people had written in during the initial five week period and had raised some comments about it - including [some] positive and some negative,” Mr Philips continued. 

“But one couple wrote in and said they were concerned about the provision of social housing. 

“Not the fact it was being provided but where it was being located within the scheme. 

“Which would be at 10%; so, the scheme has 1,131 apartments, so there would be 113 social housing [units].” 

Builders at work. Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie. 11/01/2022

The couple complained that they could not find on the planning document where the social housing would be located, which Mr Philips believes is due to a typo where it is  described in ‘Pat V’ instead of ‘Part V’. 

The couple also complained that the developer was dictating to the local authority regarding the location of the social homes. 

The objection means that final approval has been delayed and is now in early 2026.

For Mr Philips, it is an example of why the planning system continues to delay the building of much needed new homes. 

“It’s possibly one of the worst examples I’ve seen,” he said. 

“I have to be fair to the couple, [it’s] the democratic process.”

Last year, the Oireachtas passed the Planning and Development Act 2024, which then-Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien promised would deliver a reformed planning system that "matches our strong ambitions for housing delivery and critical infrastructure over the coming decades".

Main image: A builder working with bricks. Picture by: Alamy.com.