An Bord Pleanala have refused permission for a 201 bedspace build-to-rent Co-Living development at the ex-Kenilworth Motors site in Harold’s Cross. Peter Dooley, Independent representative and co-founder of Dublin Renters’ Union says “This is a great victory for the local community and demonstrates the power of people in the community organising together. Co-living was a really bad idea in the pre-Covid days but in the midst of a global health pandemic, where physical distancing is impossible, co-living is utterly incompatible with safeguarding public health
Peter says ” In July when the owners, AAI Kenilworth, erected the application notice, I rallied the local community with a number of brilliantly attended outdoor public meetings at the site and supported people with their submissions, observations and objections to An Bord Pleanala” “In 2016, the previous Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, Fine Gael, changed the planning regulations neglecting community democracy in the planning process to facilitate profit-driven developers. Now, developers can directly apply for planning permission to An Bord Pleanala under strategic housing development if they are looking for 200+ Co-Living bedspaces, circumventing their part v social housing responsibilities and to exponentially increase the land value”
“I’ve consistently campaigned against workers cells developments, from its inception, as it is akin to tenement living. Co-Living tenants have shared kitchen and living facilities and pay €1,300+ per month for their bedspace with no tenant protections, while the owners make huge profits” “Fianna Fail’s Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien, previously called Co-Living “bonkers” and has the authority to abolish it. The Minister started a review on co-living in the summer which was supposed to be complete in the Autumn and in the past couple of weeks the Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Green Party Government disgrqcefully voted against banning co-living”
“Dublin 6 is being overdeveloped with sky-high price build-to-rent apartments and co-living workers cells instead of sustainable public homes that people so desperately require, these illogical developments cannot continue and we urgently need a community-led Local Area Plan for the Harold’s Cross area”
“The local community and myself are delighted that An Bord Pleanala decided to refuse this on the basis it is contrary to proper planning and sustainable development. I am calling that good sense finally prevails and that all Co-Living developments are banned nationally”
