Core Refusal Reason
The proposal failed to provide a strong justification for the demolition of a habitable 1960s dwelling, contrary to the 'retrofit-first' policy of the Development Plan, and the replacement structure was deemed to have an excessive scale, height, and massing that would negatively impact the residential amenities of adjacent properties.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The demolition of the existing habitable 1960s modernist home is unjustified and contradicts climate action policies (Policy CA6) which prioritize the retrofitting and reuse of existing buildings over demolition.
- By reason of its substantial height (exceeding 12 metres), bulk, and layout, the proposed replacement house would be visually dominant and cause significant overbearing and overshadowing impacts on the properties at No. 32 and No. 35 Knocknacree Park.
- The development represents an abrupt change in the established streetscape and fails to comply with the 'Infill' development standards of the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan 2022-2028, thereby injuring the residential and visual amenities of the area.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Section 12.3.9 (Demolition and Replacement Dwellings)Policy Objective CA6 (Retrofit and Reuse of Buildings)Section 3.4.1.2Section 12.3.7.7 (Infill Development)Zoning Objective 'A'Policy Objective PHP18 (Residential Density)Policy Objective PHP19 (Existing Housing Stock-Adaptation)Policy Objective PHP20 (Protection of Existing Residential Amenities)Policy Objective CA5 (Energy Performance in Buildings)Policy Objective CA7 (Construction materials)Section 12.4.8 (Vehicular Entrances and Car Parking Standards)
Decision Document Summary
The applicant sought permission for the demolition of a 1960s split-level detached bungalow (245 sqm) and the construction of a new contemporary 3-storey over sub-basement dwelling (468 sqm) at 33 Knocknacree Park, Dalkey. The site is characterized by a steep upward slope and a wedge-shaped configuration. The Inspector's assessment focused on the principle of demolition and the physical impact of the new structure. Despite the applicant's arguments regarding the medical necessity for an internal...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
Note: If code appears below, the council site is blocking the preview. Please open the original file.
PDF Document Missing
The original decision document for this case could not be linked. This often happens for older cases or those with restricted documentation.
Search for case on ABP