Developer resubmits plans to restore Prospect House
PLANS for the restoration of Prospect House on Stocking Lane in Rathfarnham and the construction of a 22-unit apartment block in surrounding land have been resubmitted.
Developers MSJA Ltd resubmitted the plans on June 14, one day after South Dublin Council had deemed their previous application for the same development invalid.
The plans include the internal modification, reconfiguration and refurbishment of and an extension to Prospect House and the renovation and modification of its associated coach house to provide for a four-bed dwelling with associated private open space and car-parking provision.
The re-opening of a gap between Prospect House and its detached coach house to the rear to provide a gated access into the new communal gardens proposed to the west of Prospect House forms part of the proposal.
Permission is also being sought for the reconstruction of the Gate Lodge, which MSJA stated is “in ruins”, to provide for a two-bed, single storey dwelling with associated private open space and car-parking.
The apartment portion of the development is to consist of one three-storey apartment block, plus setback penthouse level, to the western side of Prospect House to provide for 22 residential units.
The breakdown of the residential units is 11 one-bedroom units and 11 two-bedroom units, over a single storey basement comprising a total of 25 car parking spaces, two motorbike spaces and 40 bicycle parking spaces.
On June 13, South Dublin County Council ruled that the planning application was invalid because the newspaper notice for the development didn’t state that the planning application may be inspected or purchased at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours.
There was also an unmet requirement for the notice to state that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee of €20 within the period of five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of this application.
The following day, on June 14, MSJA resubmitted the plans to the local authority, with a decision due from the council by August 8.
This is just the latest instance of Prospect House, a Protected Structure, being mooted as the site for a residential development.
Back in 2020, Sequana Assets Limited was refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála for the reconfiguration of Prospect House and the development of an apartment block.
Sequana Assets’ unsuccessful plans for the site included an internal reconfiguration of and refurbishments to the detached outbuildings and courtyard to the rear of Prospect House, in order to accommodate a single-storey, one-bedroom apartment unit.
The provision of one apartment block, at three-storeys high and setback penthouse level, to the western side of Prospect House to provide for 25 residential units, consisting of eight one-bedroom units, 16 two-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit was included in the plans.
The plans received 83 third-party submissions, and South Dublin County Council refused permission in November 2019, before Sequana Assets went on to appeal the council’s decision to An Bord Pleanála, with the appeals board ultimately upholding the council’s decision.
