An Taisce objects to parts of plan to develop Kinsealy

An Taisce has objected to aspects of an "integrated tourism and recreational facility" on the estate of former taoiseach Charles Haughey at Kinsealy in north Dublin.

An Taisce said the facility, which incorporates 32 large five- and six-bedroom homes, a hotel, a golf course and 14 courtyard-style houses, breaches the level of development proposed in the Draft Fingal County Development Plan.

Mr Haughey sold the Gandon mansion Abbeville and 20 acres, while his children sold the rest of the 235-acre estate to builder Manor Park Homes in August 2003 for a reported €45 million.

The local area objectives for Abbeville, as outlined in the draft development plan allow, for an integrated tourism and recreational complex including a hotel/ conference centre; a golf course; a fitness centre; at least one other extensive tourist/recreational facility and a limited number of dwelling units, preferably grouped in a courtyard type configuration, a majority of which must be reserved for tourism use.

In a letter to Fingal County Council, An Taisce's heritage officer Ian Lumley said while the 14 courtyard-style, four-bed houses "might be an acceptable component of a proposed scheme", the 32 detached houses would not be "and should be omitted".

Mr Lumley submitted that the five- and six-bedroom houses contravened policy, "are excessive in scale and unnecessary in terms of an integrated tourism facility".

An Taisce also believes the demesne occupies an important greenbelt buffer area between the city and Malahide and says there "is huge public interest in the treatment of Kinsealy because of its recent political history and the circumstances of its acquisition by Charles Haughey and its sale".

There were also issues yet to be resolved in relation to unauthorised draining work on the lake and the historic curtilage of the house as well as the landscape and an ecological sensitivity zone.

Mr Lumley argued that in considering any application, Fingal council should secure the most sensitive treatment of areas around the main house and the areas of landscape most visually and ecologically sensitive.

The nature and extent of the facilities should be determined "primarily by the need to conserve the house and its surroundings, which are of major architectural importance, and the special landscape character and heritage features of the demense".