Planning battle in store for Niall Mellon . . . again

ARDILEA RESIDENTS are likely to be gearing themselves up for yet another battle over the former Bank of Ireland sports grounds in Knockrabo in Goatstown.

Developer Niall Mellon of Knockrabo Developments Ltd has come back with another planning application for a 2.39-hectare part of the grounds.

It's been three years since he was refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála for a development of over 360 residential units on the site.

This time around he is submitting a planning application to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for a much smaller development of 85 residential units (comprising 26 five-bed four-storey houses, one three-storey house and 58 apartments in three five-storey blocks).

He is also looking to build a new entrance off Mount Anville Road.

Mellon purchased the site for €50 million in 2003 from Michael Roden's Merrion Property Group.

O'Malley Developments is also looking to build houses at Knockrabo.

It bought a portion of the site from Niall Mellon's Knockrabo Developments in an off-market deal.

Last year An Bord Pleanála refused O'Malley Developments planning permission for a 129-unit housing scheme because the scheme adjoins a reservation for a major road development, the Sandyford to Saint Helen's link road, which has yet to be finalised by the National Roads Authority.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times