Plan for Dublin 4 redbrick appealed

Pembroke Road Residents Association has opposed a plan by developer Gerry Gannon to redevelop Halcam Court on Pembroke Road, Dublin 4, a protected structure.

The housing developer bought the 19th century property, a large Ballsbridge house divided into flats, for €9.3 million in 2004. The four-storey over basement house is in need of updating and has a modern six-storey return and a mews on its grounds.

Pembroke Road Residents Association and James O'Reilly, a resident of Raglan Road, have appealed plans to convert the house into a luxury apartment and mews complex to An Bord Pleanála. The proposal is to reduce the existing number of apartments from 18 to 15.

Gannon also wants to partly demolish the mews building on the corner of Pembroke Road and Raglan Road and build a two-storey extension with balconies and courtyards accessed from Raglan Road and Pembroke Lane.

Part of the proposal reduces the car-parking spaces from 31 to 21.

In its appeal, Pembroke Road Residents Association says there is a need to protect the special character of Halcam Court and ensure its continued structural stability. It says there are "far too many units proposed" and balconies on the mews and back of the main house would be out of character with the house. It says the proposed alterations would constitute overdevelopment of the site.

The residents association believes the mews should be reduced to one house with a garage, in line with other houses on Pembroke Lane and says the entrance from Raglan Road should be blocked off.

The second appellant, James O'Reilly, says the number of one-bedroom apartments is excessive and there should be a greater mix of two and three-bedroom units.

He says the overlooking of the neighbourhood by balconies fails to respect requirements in the Planning Act and regulations.

Mr O'Reilly maintains that proper gates should be installed on the entrance to Pembroke Road and Raglan Road, and appropriate security arrangements should be in place.

The distinctive redbrick main house was built in 1843 and has high ceilings, period plasterwork and sash windows.