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TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN has received planning permission to build over 350 new student beds in South Dublin, despite objections from nearby residents over the project.
The complex, which would be located within Trinity Halls in Dartry, Dublin 6, is set to have a total of 358 new student beds under the planned scheme.
Plans were first lodged for the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) in early 2022, with the college saying it will “deliver and operate a best in class” student accommodation centre.
The plans were granted by An Bord Pleanála (ABP) earlier this month, despite objections from locals calling for the plan to be scrapped.
According to the Inspectors Report, there were 15 submissions received by An Bord Pleanála on the proposed scheme.
Some of the criticism aimed at the plan focused on its location, saying it would go against the “spirit” of a residential area like Dartry to have a high concentration of student accommodation in the area.
Currently, Trinity Halls has 995 student beds and residents have complained that the student population density will rise further with the additional 358 beds.
Criticism has also been levelled due to the accommodation being located over 3km away from the campus itself, adding that additional students in the area will put pressure on public transport routes that go towards Trinity College.
In particular, the observation focuses on overcrowding of the Luas and says that current public transport infrastructure is at capacity.
The plan itself will see two buildings within the complex demolished to allow for the new construction. These are the sports hall and an older student accommodation building, Cunningham House, that was completed in the 1970s.
The first block, Block A, will have three separate heights ranging from four to eight storeys.
The second two blocks, B and C, will be four and three storeys respectively.
Alongside the student accommodation, there will be four staff apartments built on the site.
The majority of the student accommodation will be eight bed apartments, with 34 apartments in total. There will be 11 five-bed apartments, six four-bed apartments and one seven-bed apartment.
There will also be two classrooms built on the site, which are expected to be used by the Trinity College Botany Department.
The demolished sports hall will also be replaced, with an adjoining amenity space for residents.
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The nimby brigade are at it again I see, want houses and apartments built but not in their area
@Brian Molloy: when it was extended about 20 years ago they also raised objections
@Brian Molloy: considering all the hassle the residents in Cork are having with students living in accommodation near UCC, could you blame anyone from objecting?
@Jim Buckley Barrett: Is that not students living in houses right beside families though / in the same estate ? Different to a specific area designated for students .
@Jim Buckley Barrett: Well done painting every student with the same brush
When you see a reason for a planning objection is “it goes against the spirit of the area” then you know that’s just waffle for people who don’t want any building near them.
@Sean Minihane: goes against the spirit of the area, but trinity has had student accomodation in dartry for decades!!! They are a part of the spirit of the area!
Sure who wouldn’t want 350 students living beside them.
@James Bong: If they don’t like city life, they can move to an outer suburb or commuter town
Badly needed and only putting in existing Trinity ground. Only issue is why such an ugly depressing building. I can see solar panels, I think? Where’s the innovation, and I hope to God substainability is somewhere to the forefront to some extent. Do Trinity have an eco/environment science school – they should give them a challenge to come up with cost effective ideas within budget.
@Sarah Broderick: ye the building is rank
@Phil Quinn: woeful looking thing..
Very welcome and much needed. I see that one objection is that its over 3km from the campus, and may overload public transport. A lot of commuters walk or cycle that distance. Beats commuting from Mullingar / Portlaoise etc..
Not in my backyard brigade!
Won’t be for Irish undergrads more likely for the lucrative foreign student market where accommodation offer is a must.
@Cez Miname: planning condition can be applied to have it open to all students
The argument that further residences ‘would go against the “spirit” of a residential area like Dartry’ is patently absurd although the overcrowded transport services is a real problem unless peak hour services are sufficiently increased.
Money money for the owners of the college now they are lanlords
have your say