In May, the Corcoran family lodged plans for a 30-bedroom up-market guesthouse for 73 Lower Baggot Street that would include the change of use of existing offices to hotel and the addition of a seven-storey block.
The family operates the four-star Perryville House in Kinsale, a member of Ireland’s BlueBook, and a planning report lodged with the application stated that members of the second generation of the Corcoran family have moved to Dublin and have identified the Lower Baggot Street property in which to establish a sister business to Perryville House.
However, council planners have dealt their plans a major blow after concluding that The Kilcolman Partnership scheme would detract from the setting, character and appearance of the adjacent protected structure and conservation area and would seriously injure the amenities of the area.
In the refusal of planning permission, the council also found that the proposed development would create an undesirable precedent for similar type development and would likely devalue property in the vicinity.
The council also refused planning after concluding that the proposed change of use to hotel is contrary to the Dublin City Development Plan which seeks to promote a mixed-use land policy in the city centre including the provision of high quality, sustainable residential development.
The council concluded that the proposed change of use is not in accordance with development plan policy and does not represent the best use of the city centre site.
Eleven third-party submissions were lodged including one by leading barrister Mark Harty SC and his wife, Karyn, who submitted a comprehensive objection against the scheme.
In the objection, the Hartys bristled at a suggestion that their Lower Baggot Street property might be described as a trophy home, pointing out that theirs is a family home “and one that is most cherished” with their four young children, two dogs and one cat.
Neighbours to the proposed development site, the Hartys state: “Aside from the nuisance of developers who appear determined who seek to impose inappropriate developments in the area, we can honestly state that we can think of no better place to have a family home.” An Taisce also called on the council to refuse planning permission.
Planning officer with An Taisce Kevin Duff urged the council to refuse permission to the proposal on account of its inappropriate design and the considerable sensitivity and heritage value of the subject corner site.
