Relief that Co-Living Proposals have been refused for Hendrons Site

Labour Party Senator Marie Sherlock has expressed relief after it was announced that planning permission has been refused for a co-living development at the former Hendrons site in Broadstone in Dublin 7.

280 co-living units had been proposed for the Western Way SHD, with permission today refused by An Bord Pleanála due to concerns over the development’s impact on the Protected Structure on the site.

Senator Sherlock said that the decision was a vindication for those who have opposed co-living in the local community. There has been huge local concern about the co-living nature of the development – in this instance it was an insincere attempt to address the housing crisis through exploitation of planning loopholes which prioritised developers’ profits. She said that the co-living model failed to meet the demand for affordable, sustainable housing in the area, and that the news must be welcomed.

Senator Sherlock said: “The proposal for the Hendron’s site is just one of a number of co-living and temporary accommodation applications in the north west inner city. Locally there is a very real concern about the over-concentration of co-living and other forms of temporary accommodation in the north-west inner city. At the time of this application, there were some 1491 co-living units going through the planning system within a mile of the Hendrons site. The Co-living plan for the fruit and vegetable market has since been rejected, and we await news on the developments at the St Mary’s site, Phibsborough Shopping Centre and Frederick Street North.

“Furthermore, in Winter 2020, Dublin City Council granted permission for the temporary use of up to 1,325 student accommodation units as tourist and short term accommodation until May 2021 in the north inner city. These four units are located within just 1.1km of the Hendrons site, and add to the growing concerns about the proliferation of unsustainable, unaffordable housing among the community”.

“With today’s rejection, we very much hope that a conversation can now be opened up with appropriate use of this important and unique site with significant industrial heritage”.