Cuckoo funds banned from buying homes in two new schemes

It has inserted a condition in the planning permission stating that the homes must be occupied by individual buyers and cannot be first owned by a corporate entity.

The appeals board said it was attaching the condition for the common good and to ensure there is an adequate supply of housing.

The two developments, one in Dublin and the other in Galway, between them comprise more than 430 homes.

In one ruling granting “fast-track” planning permission to Ballycullen Ltd Partnership for a €113m scheme of 329 homes at Woodtown, Ballycullen, south Dublin, the board inserted a condition that all houses and duplex units in the development are to be occupied by individual buyers.

As part of the conditions attached to the permission, the board said the houses and duplex units cannot be first owned by a corporate entity.

Outlining the reason for inserting the condition, the board said it was to ensure an adequate choice and supply of housing, including affordable housing, in the common good.

The Ballycullen scheme is made up of 140 terraced, semi-detached and detached homes along with 132 two-bed apartments and duplexes and 57 one-bed apartments.

The board has inserted a similar condition for the houses and duplex units in a separate Strategic Housing Development permission for 102 homes at Monivea Road, Ballybrit, Galway.

In that case, the appeals board granted planning permission to Sathel Ltd for 34 duplex units, 13 houses and 55 apartments.

The move by the board to impose the restriction that the houses and duplex homes cannot be bought by corporate entities and only by individual purchasers follows an outcry earlier this year after it emerged that an entire housing estate in Co Kildare had been bought by an institutional investor.

In the case of the Ballycullen scheme, the board granted planning permission after its inspector in the case, Sarah Moran, concluded it generally achieves a high quality of design and finish while making the optimum use of zoned land.

As part of local opposition to the scheme, Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart and Green TD Francis Noel Duffy lodged submissions in support of residents’ objections.

Mr Duffy said the construction of apartment blocks ranging in height from two to five storeys “is out of keeping with the existing development in the area and is excessive”.

In his submission, Mr Lahart told An Bord Pleanála that he wishes to strongly support the observations lodged on behalf of Stocking Wood Residents’ Association and Abbott Grove Residents’ Association and the master observation lodged on behalf of the wider community.

The board granted planning permission in spite of planners from South Dublin County Council recommending that it be refused.

The council said the development would be a material contravention of the local area plan on the grounds of height, unit mix and density.

As part of the scheme for the site, the developers have put a price tag of €12.4m on 36 units it has identified for social housing to sell to the council. The average cost of each unit is €345,305.

Negotiations with the council aimed at reaching a final price can now take place.