Time to declare moritorium on student accommodation in North Inner City

8 May 2019

by Cllr Joe Costello

Joe Costello, Labour Spokesperson for Urban Regeneration, has raised concerns over the concentration of student accommodation being developed in the North Inner City.

Mr. Costello said: 

"The proliferation of student accommodation in the North Inner City is quite alarming.

"Much of the accommodation is concentrated around the new Technological University of Dublin in Grangegorman but it extends all across the North Inner City. A 329 unit development of student accommodation is nearing completion on Montpelier Hill beside the Phoenix Park at one end of the Nth Inner City electoral area and a 1,000 unit has planning permission at the point Depot at the other boundary. In between there is in the region of 8000 units. Both Trinity College and DCU are sourcing student accommodation in the area.

"There is now a glut of student accommodation in the North Inner City. Virtually all this accommodation is in residential areas. The concentration means that many settled communities are being suddenly overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of newcomers. Moreover, much of the accommodation is being used all the year round with students during the academic year and Airbnb during the summer months even though there is no planning permission for such multiple use. A complaint which I have lodged with the Enforcement Section of Dublin City Council in this regard has not been acted on nearly twelve months later.

"Stoneybatter is a small village which was awarded the title of Ireland’s Premier Heritage Village in 2016. It is a wonderful place to live and work. However, it is now under huge threat from a series of developments which when completed will create a population much larger than the existing population of the area. The entire dynamics of the area will change dramatically in the next couple of years. This is not good planning and could destroy the unique character of this fragile urban village

"I believe that Dublin City Council should call a halt to any more planning applications for Student Accommodation in the North Inner City. There should be a moratorium declared.   

"Secondly, Dublin City Council should now put in place a Local Area Plan for the Stoneybatter/ Grangegorman area so that comprehensive preparations can be made to cater for the massive influx of students and Airbnb visitors to the area."