Appeal lodged by owners of landmark house over council’s decision

Owners of a landmark house in Rathfarnham have lodged an appeal after the council ruled their plans to convert it into a homeless accommodation hub was not an exempted development.

South Dublin County Council issued a decision to Sinnulis Ltd on February 9, 2026, that their use of Rosebank and Rosebank Lodge as homeless accommodation “constitutes development, does not constitute exempted development and would thus require planning permission”.

However, they have now lodged an appeal against the council’s decision with An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Rosebank is a two-storey, eight-bedroom property while Rosebank Lodge, the smaller of the two buildings, is a single-storey one-bed property close to the site’s entrance.

“The subject site comprises two residential properties which were previously used to provide medium to long-term accommodation to homeless families, however, has since been vacant since 2014,” the planning report to the council stated.

In their appeal lodged on March 12, Sinnulis Ltd said that the proposals to use the two buildings to “provide residential accommodation to homeless families, where no care or support services are provided, constitutes a continuation of the established residential use”.

“Whilst it is contended that the Planning Authority erred in its approach to formulating a decision, the proposed use does not cease the residential use established on site and would not be representative of homeless accommodation use under Class 9 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001,” the appeal read.

They also noted that the proposed development “does not and has never provided care to residents”, no staff would live on site and that “no element of care, be it social, physical or emotional will be provided to residents at this property”.

“Recent planning precedents from Dublin City Council and An Coimisiún Pleanála reinforce the position that the continued residential use of properties to accommodate homeless persons without care provision does not constitute development,” they added.

South Dublin County Council confirmed their decision in a letter responding to the appeal on Wednesday, March 18.

“The issues raised in the appeal have been covered in the Chief Executive Order,” they said.

A decision is due from An Coimisiún Pleanála by July 13, 2026.