Plans to build housing at Bushy Park House

By Laura Lyne

A PROPOSAL for the development of housing at Bushy Park House in Templeogue has been submitted to South Dublin County Council.

The proposal is for alterations and a change of use to the current Bushy Park House, which is a protected structure, from education, science and technology use to residential use.

Included within the proposed residential development is provision for 17 apartments, which consist of eight one-bedroom apartments and nine two-bedroom apartments.

Also included within the proposal is the installation of five new internal staircases, internal partition walls, an external escape staircase and the replacement of windows.

18 car parking spaces and 17 bicycle spaces are to be allocated to the housing development if approved, with a number of extensions also included within the development.

The application was submitted by John Spain Associates on behalf of the applicant, developers Sheelin McSharry.

Sheelin McSharry previously fought a two-year battle with local residents for the development of more than 272 apartments, which now make up the majority of the Bushy Park House residential area that is located on the site adjacent to the proposed development.

They said: “The works will enable the re-use of this important building which has remained vacant for a number of years.”

A previous application for the development of housing at the same site was submitted in 2007, with the proposal refused permission by An Bord Pleanala in March 2009.

The reasons for refusal included the negative impact the development would have had on the architectural integrity of Bushy Park House, and the proposed basement apartments being “contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

The new proposal aims to address these concerns.

Third party submissions will be accepted until June 22 on the application, with a decision due from South Dublin County Council by July 13.