Vast leisure scheme for historic Skerries site

Milverton Demesne in Skerries, Co Dublin - which has a history dating back to the mid-16th century - will be transformed into a vast tourism and leisure facility if a planning application by Tamorbrick Limited, a division of Treasury Holdings, is successful.

The proposal includes a 100-bedroom hotel, two 18-hole golf courses divided by the Black Hills, a nine-hole putting course, a golf driving range, golf club house with pro-shop, craft centre, aparthotel, equestrian and tennis academy on a vast 437-acre estate which spans Milverton Demesne and Home Farm.

There would also be around 30 residential units and 30 tourist accommodation units. The proposal involves the demolition of an existing two-storey 460 sq m (4,951 sq ft) house and a single storey 200 sq m (2,153 sq ft) cottage .

The hotel would have a restaurant, bar, leisure centre, pool and gym, spa treatment rooms, function and conference centre in a four-storey over basement block. The hotel would have 470 car-parking spaces and six coach spaces.

The golf clubhouse would have 200 parking spaces attached and the driving range would have 40 car-parking spaces. There would also be 30 residential units - five and six-bed detached units and 30 two and three-bed tourist accommodation units. Also proposed is a 96-room aparthotel, gym, bar and dining area as well as 200 car-parking spaces.

A maintenance building and Home Farm buildings would be converted to an equestrian centre. It would also include the refurbishment of stone stables into a reception area and canteen, and conversion of a house to an administration building.

The developers are looking to turn the stable buildings adjoining Milverton into a craft centre, tennis academy, restaurant and changing facilities, and five gate lodges from residential use to office administration use, security offices, a green keepers office and golf professionals office. Stone outbuildings would be refurbished to provide staff accommodation. A new access road from Balcunnin Road is proposed as well as an access road from the county road forming the northern boundary of Milverton Demesne.

Milverton Demesne dates back to 1537 and its first recorded owner is John Parker. Other owners included the Earl of Thomond in 1608 and the Coddington family until 1721. The Hamiltons were later owners, as were the Wood family and subsequently the Wentges.