Stillorgan asylum centre rejected

One of the biggest providers of accommodation to asylum seekers in the State - the Victory Christian Fellowship - has been refused permission to refurbish and extend Kilmacud House, in Stillorgan, Co Dublin.

The Christian church group, which runs three centres for asylum seekers, was looking to demolish a 1950s extension to the house, which is a protected structure, refurbish it and build 44 apartments. This would have included six units in the house and alterations to the west wing to provide a townhouse. It is also looking to build three blocks of apartments and duplexes.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council turned down the proposal because it said Kilmacud House is listed for protection and the development would "materially and adversely" affect its setting and character.

It said the internal layout of a number of the apartments is inadequate in terms of the width and size of some of the rooms, particularly the kitchen and living spaces, and the proposed accommodation would result in a substandard form of accommodation for future occupants.

In other planning news Castle Park primary school in Dalkey, Co Dublin, has been given the go-ahead by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for a residential development on its grounds.

The fee-paying school has an agreement with a consortium led by David Arnold to sell the prime residential site, subject to planning permission being granted, at a price believed to be in the region of €10 million.

The development will comprise 18 townhouses and 63 apartments rising to five storeys on a 2.5-acre portion of its grounds.

The sale of this land is to fund a €14 million redevelopment of the school. Castle Park, which celebrated its centenary last year and is attended by over 270 children, will use the money to pay off significant debts and finance the redevelopment of the school, which receives no grants or supports from the State.

Smith and Kennedy architects - based in Dún Laoghaire - will oversee the redevelopment while O'Mahony Pike architects will be involved in the residential scheme.