Council refuses Desmond company permit to continue works on historic Dublin house

Mr Dermot Desmond's Illium Properties Ltd has been refused planning permission to continue carrying out certain works at 71, Merrion Square, Dublin, formerly the home of the late fashion designer Sybil Connolly.

According to a decision by Dublin City Council, the works would represent "an unacceptable level of damage to, and removal of, the original fabric of a protected structure of national architectural heritage importance".

Illium Properties Ltd sought to complete a dumb waiter and the installation of an electrical riser, running from the basement to the third floor at the back of the house.

Architect and historic buildings consultant Mr David Slattery, who was commissioned by the council to survey the building, recommended that the application be refused. He said the original form of the main reception rooms had been affected by extensive "panelling out and lining" of the areas facing and adjoining the chimney breast to conceal the services ducts. He feared that permission for "such level of intrusion" by service ducts and dumb waiters in the main spaces of a building of such significance could "create a precedent for their acceptability in other protected Georgian buildings." Illium Properties declined to comment on the decision when contacted by The Irish Times.

Built in 1791 and extended in 1850, number 71 has been the subject of five planning applications by Illium over the past two years.Last year the company was granted permission to renovate the property, remove a conservatory at the back, demolish part of a two-storey rear return and create a stepped terrace.

It also obtained approval to change the property's use from part-business, part-residential to single residential, and to carry out internal refurbishments to a mews at the rear .

The service ducts were among the concerns of planning enforcement officer Mr Stephen Masterson, who recommended that legal proceedings under Section 160 of the Planning and Development Act be instituted after he inspected the house in March. He noted that on the ground floor a service elevator and a service duct had been constructed on each side of the chimney breast, contrary to a condition of permission.

Dublin City Council is considering taking enforcement proceedings against the company over alleged breaches of planning conditions during the refurbishment.