The construction of the 608-unit scheme marks nearly eight years since Cairn purchased just under nine acres of RTÉ’s Montrose headquarters for €107.5 million.

The Initial phase will focus on the northwest corner of the site, including preparatory work for the broader development and the construction of 15 residential units within Block 10.

This comes 18 months after An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the project, which comprises nine apartment blocks ranging from two to ten storeys. The development will include 272 build-to-sell units and 336 build-to-rent units. However, the board rejected plans for a 16-storey tower featuring an 80-unit apartment complex and a 192-bedroom hotel.

In response, Cairn Homes announced plans to submit a new Large-Scale Residential Development (LRD) application in early 2025 to reintroduce the 16-storey Block 5 with a revised height, updated design, and potentially altered uses.

The project has faced significant local opposition, with Cairn Homes acknowledging the potential for legal challenges. The current permission is the firm’s second attempt to develop the site, after an earlier approval was overturned by the High Court following action by Ailesbury Road residents Chris Comerford, John Gleeson, and Pat Desmond.

The revised application also attracted six appeals to An Bord Pleanála after Dublin City Council granted permission in December 2022. Among the appellants were Pat Desmond, wife of billionaire Dermot Desmond, other Ailesbury Road residents, and the Republic of Austria, which has its embassy nearby.