By Amy Rohu
Irish property developer Ballymore has submitted their planning application for phase two of its development adjacent to Connolly Station dubbed the Connolly Quarter.
Covering 71,000sqm, the development will consist of two residential blocks with 187 units, and four office buildings, it will also include retail space, a cafe, a cycle hub, and will be the new home to Docklands Boxing Club and St Joseph’s O’Connell Boys GAA Club, where both clubs will have modern new facilities.
The latest proposal differs from the original plan, which would have seen hundreds more residential units and more social housing, local Cllr Nial Ring said that the new proposal was ‘disappointing’ but there was some room for optimism.
“There was originally 745 apartments in the Connolly Quarter which would have given us 75 units for people on the city council housing list but now the new plan is only going to give us 19 social units,” he pointed out.
“We are down 56 social units so its a bit of a blow for the area. Originally down further the Dublin Docklands Development Authority were supposed to deliver 180 social units in Spencer Dock but that never materialised. That whole area hasn’t done well at all in terms of social units, I think its about 60 or 70 in total so far.
“Everyone there welcomes the Connolly Quarter and they know it’s the city centre. The local residents aren’t naive enough to believe there will be a lot of building in the area,” he emphasized.
Speaking of the potential upside of the situation, Ring said: “There is disappointment there that the social housing units are down but we would be hopeful that when the offices are built that would give local people the opportunity to get employment. Even in the construction faze we hope to get apprenticeships and local employment.
Speaking about the potential for further development in the area he added: “The National Transport Authority have abandoned all plans for the Eastern Bypass motorway, so that should give us some land close to Dublin Port. We are hoping that could be looked at because there are lots of opportunities in the area.”
PHOTO – An artist’s impression of the proposed Connolly Quarter scheme shows the 23-storey apartment tower
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