Plans to demolish Mortons pub for 100 new apartments

RAZING the landmark Mortons The Firhouse Inn pub to the ground to make way for 100 apartments is the subject of a new fast-track planning application lodged with An Bord Pleanála.

Bluemont Developments Firhouse Limited is seeking permission for a Strategic Housing Development (SHD) on lands at Two Firhouse Road and the former Morton’s, The Firhouse Inn.

There are three different aspects to the development, which includes the demolition of all existing site structures, residential development, and development to consist of non-residential uses.

The two-storey building formally used as a public house and ancillary off-licence along with a two-storey building comprising an existing barber shop and betting office are set for demolition.

A single storey cottage building, eastern boundary wall and gated entrance from Mount Carmel Park will also be demolished as part of this plan.

Proposals include the construction of 100 residential units, comprising of 96 apartments and four duplex units, arranged in two blocks scaling between three and five-storeys over lower ground floor and basement levels.

The apartments will break down into 44 two-bed units, 45 one-bed units, five three-beds and two studio units along with two one-bed duplex apartments and two two-bed duplexes.

There is provision for a café, office, barber shop, medical unit, betting office, crèche, and office at the ground-floor levels of the proposed developments.

Vehicular access to the site will be from the existing access off Firhouse Road with provision for some 80 car parking spaces at basement level.

Mortons as it sits today on the Firhouse Road 

Plans also incorporate public open space, bicycle parking, motorcycle parking and electric vehicle charging points.

Bluemont Developments Firhouse Limited, which has an address at Clonminch Hi Tech Park in Tullamore, County Offaly, has two registered directors.

Fearghal de Feu and Sean Corroon are listed as directors to the company, with the latter also named as secretary.

The company was incorporated on October 22, 2020.

According to local historian Albert Perris’ A Ramble About Tallaght blog, Harry Morton purchased The Firhouse Inn for £22,800 back in March 1963.

Since June 2017, SHD applications go straight to An Bord Pleanála, bypassing councils and disarming elected representatives from making a decision on a large-scale development.

Fast track legislation for SHDs, which was signed into effect by then-Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, for the purpose of meeting the demand for housing, is set to be abolished.

Legislation to end SHDs and restore the decision-making of large-scale housing developments to Local Authorities such as South Dublin County Council was passed in December 2021.

This bill replaces the SHD process with a new planning process known as Large Scale Residential Developments (LRDs).

Following the enactment of the new bill, both LRD and SHD planning consent schemes will operate concurrently until all applications have worked their way through the system.