An impression of the planned development of Dundrum Central on the site of the former Central Mental Hospital.
The Land Development Agency is transforming vacant state land at Dundrum's Central Mental Hospital on Dublin's southside into a new housing development with more than 850 houses, duplexes and apartments on the site. It will take up to a decade to complete, but residents will get the keys to the first phase within two years of groundbreaking.
Despite the building permit being granted, no construction is taking place because “a single individual” is blocking the development, who happens to be a project developer himself.
Mark Leonard, who lives over the site's 18ft wall, is taking legal action against the project, launching a judicial inquiry into An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant permission for the development.
At the same time, Mr Leonard's property development company has contacted the LDA about its own project in Cork city, the Irish Independent has learned.
Mr Leonard runs a property development company called Centurion Homes with his cousin and business partner Noel Barry. Barry approached the LDA in December about a project the company was working on.
“I would like to speak to someone about a project we have in Cork City for 121 apartments and duplexes,” said Mr Barry, who followed up on the question in January last year. It is not clear what assistance he was seeking from the LDA.
Today on The Indo Daily, Tabitha Monahan is joined by Ireland Editor Irish IndependentFionnán Sheehan, to discuss whether Ireland's planning system needs a radical overhaul.
This episode of Indo Daily was originally published on April 10, 2024.
Indo Daily Investigates: 'Nimbyism' – How a Developer Blocks Construction of 850 New Homes
