SD24B/0025W
Demolition of 3No. derelict houses and rear outbuildings, erection of replacement 1.8m high concrete block front boundary wall capped and rendered externally, replacement 1.5m aluminium grey painted access gates adjacent to eastern boundary, topsoiling, seeding, landscaping and ancillary works, all to form part of the curtilage of the host bungalow, widening and improvement works to existing vehicular access to host dwelling on 0.29 ha site.
Core Refusal Reason
The proposed demolition of three houses of regional conservation merit within the Rathcoole Architectural Conservation Area, in the absence of a suitable replacement development, would significantly detract from the historic form and character of the streetscape and contravene specific conservation objectives of the South Dublin County Development Plan.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The subject buildings, recorded on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH), are considered to have significant conservation merit and contribute to the character and visual setting of the Rathcoole Architectural Conservation Area (ACA).
- The demolition of these structures without a concurrent proposal for a high-quality replacement building would create an unacceptable gap in the streetscape and undermine the historical and urban context of the village core.
- The proposal fails to meet the criteria for demolition within an ACA as set out in the Architectural Heritage Guidelines and would contravene multiple strategic objectives of the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028 relating to heritage preservation and the management of derelict structures.