Plans to turn Tuning Fork pub into funeral home is refused permission
By Laura Lyne
PLANS to turn the iconic Tuning Fork pub in Rathfarnham into a funeral home have been refused by South Dublin County Council, following the submission of objections and concerns from local groups and residents.
The application was submitted by Fanagans Funeral Directors for the demolition of the former public house and the construction of a new two-storey building that would be used as a funeral home that includes three chapels.
A single storey garage for staff and funeral vehicle parking was also proposed as part of the application, along with car parking.
The heritage officer and Irish Water recommended that additional information was requested on the application, with the roads section recommending that application be refused.
15 submissions were made on the application and raised numerous concerns including how the development conflicted with the development plan for the area, the increase in traffic hazards and parking on the road and the demolishing of a “historical landmark”.
Other concerns that were raised included the scale of the proposed development, the impact the development would have on residential amenity and property value and the number of funeral homes that are already in the area.
In its decision to refuse permission for the development, the council said that there was insufficient car parking for the development which proposed only seven spaces due to the size of the building, the lack of public parking and the capacity of events on the premises.
It also said that the development would contravene the zoning objective for the area which is primarily residential and materially contravene development plan objectives.
The likelihood of flooding and the growth of Japanese Knotwood in the area were also given as reasons for refusal, along with the possibility of bats being located on the site.
The decision to refuse permission was given on February 2.
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