We live next to Conor McGregor’s multi-million new building project – it looks out of place & congestion is dreadful

CONOR McGregor's building empire dreams has been dealt a body blow following a string of planning objections.

Over 20 objections have been lodged by locals in Drimnagh, Co Dublin, against multi-million euro plans by UFC fighter's firm for an eight-storey 113-unit apartment block.

In October, Emrajare Ltd lodged the mixed-use plans with Dublin City Council that involve the demolition of the Marble Arch pub that McGregor purchased for a reported €1.5m to €2m two years ago.

Emrajare’s Large Scale Residential Development (LRD) application is to also involve the demolition of warehouse buildings/structures on site and in their place, Emrajare is to construct a three-storey to eight-storey 113-unit apartment scheme and also a restaurant/bar/cafe, a gym, a retail unit on the 0.72 acre site.

The Marblearch LRD apartment scheme is to consist of 57 two-bed units, 53 one-bed units and three studios.

The site lies adjacent to the 'Heidelberg site’ which has planning permission for a nine-storey 188 build-to-rent apartment scheme that McGregor has purchased and preliminary enabling works have commenced on site for that apartment scheme.

A planning report lodged with the MarbleArch LRD application by planning consultants, Tom Phillips + Associates states that the construction of both sites “will support the efficient and co-ordinated delivery of housing at two key suburban sites in the city council area”.

The closing date for submissions is now closed and a number of objections have been lodged by or on behalf of elderly people living for decades on the Galtymore Rd in Drimnagh.

The Clancys, Maureen and Thomas live to the rear of the proposed Marble Arch Development.

In their objection, Maureen Clancy states: "My husband and I are in our 80th year and have health problems. I don’t want the wall at the end of my garden touched or upset.

She adds: "The congestion of the road is dreadful. We worked hard enough to buy our home without getting all the crap that is going on and the fear of any high apartments behind us. We like our privacy. After all, it is not too much to ask for?”

In another objection, Joseph Dromgoole has told the council that he was objecting to the scale of such a large development “on this very small space, not only does it look out of place but also is far too close to the existing houses that are on Galtymore Rd”.

On behalf of Galtymore Rd residents, Kell and Mary Cheevers, chartered engineer, Michael Rogers has told the council that the applicants “are shoe-horning the maximum number of small units into the site, too close to neighbouring dwellings with no apparent regard for privacy or amenity of same”.

Cllr Patrick Dunne (Right To Change) has told planners that “this development without long-term security of tenure is not sustainable and will result in the creation of a transient population with very little community integration”.

In another objection from a Galtymore Rd resident, Vanessa O’Brien, Ms O’Brien has told the Council that she was making the submission on behalf of her mother, Sheila who is now in her 80s.

Vanessa O’Brien has expressed concern relating to the devaluation of house properties as a result of development in the area.

'TOO HIGH & DENSE'

Local man, Sean O’Dea lives next door to the Marble Arch pub which is facing demolition.

He said: "This proposed development is far too high, too dense and too close to my rear garden. The proposed development has windows directly overlooking my private space."

The scheme will ease City Council social housing lists for the area as the planning report confirms that 20 per cent or 23 apartments will be sold by the developer to the City Council for social housing under Part V of the Planning and Development Act.

Planning documentation lodged with the Council reveals that Emrajare initially proposed a 151-unit scheme rising to 11 storeys last year.

However, the applicants reduced the scale of the block to the current eight-storey proposal after City Council planner concerns over height, scale and massing.

'URBAN CONSOLIDATION'

Advancing the planning case for the 113-unit application, Aoife McCarthy at Tom Phillips + Associates has told the council that the proposed development "will provide for the urban consolidation of an infill brownfield inner suburban site” and the apartments are "designed to ensure high levels of residential amenity to prospective residents and the wider residential community”.

Ms McCarthy contends "that the building is of a high architectural design and will constitute a significant positive addition to the visual landscape in the environs of the application site”.

The site is located close to the Red Luas line, the Grand Canal and to significant employment hubs, St. James’s Hospital and Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.

Group CEO of McGregor Sports and Entertainment, Alan Geraghty is a director for Emrajare and and is a director of Mr McGregor’s other Irish firms.

The most recently filed accounts for Emrajare show that it had investment properties with a book value of €21.46m at the end of December last. The company had loans of €25.67m.

McGregor has deep pockets to fund the MarbleArch LRD venture from the estimated hundreds of millions he has earned from his MMA career and business dealings.

According to figures from Forbes, McGregor was ranked 35th in its 2022 top highest-earning athlete rankings earning $43m over a 12-month period before dropping off the list in 2023.