Plans lodged to convert D2 Georgian property owned by Riverdance founders into home
Gordon Deegan
Plans have been lodged to revamp a four-storey property owned by the co-founders of Riverdance, John McColgan and Moya Doherty, in the heart of Georgian Dublin into “a comfortable and sustainable home”.
In the application lodged with Dublin City Council for McColgan/Doherty property at Merrion Street Upper, Dublin 2, a Planning Design Report drawn up by Paul Keogh Architects states that the project brief “is to restore and sensitively adapt the protected structure from its existing office use to a single-family residence, ensuring its long-term viability as a comfortable and sustainable home”.
Keogh states that the works "will prioritise the conservation of the building’s architectural character and significant historic fabric, while upgrading the building’s internal layout, service installations, and thermal performance to meet modern living standards”.
He says that “the adaptation will provide high-quality, functional domestic accommodation suitable for long-term occupation, including contemporary requirements for comfort, safety, energy efficiency, and accessibility where appropriate".
Keogh states that all interventions will be carefully considered, reversible where feasible, and carried out in accordance with best conservation practice, ensuring that the protected status of the structure is respected while securing its future through active residential use.
The application is in the name of David Orr who is a director at the Riverdance firm, Abhann Productions Ltd, along with McColgan and Doherty.
The planning documentation lodged with the application includes a letter of consent signed by the property owners, McColgan and Doherty giving their consent for Orr to lodge the planning application.
A Conservation Report and Planning Report lodged with the application reveals that along with owning the subject property at Merrion Street Upper, McColgan and Doherty also own the three adjoining Georgian terrace buildings presently in commercial use.
The property at Merrion Street Upper was built between 1780 and the early 19th century.
However, in a third party submission lodged with the Council, planning consultant, Kevin Hughes has told the Council that although the development is described as a "4-storey own-door residential unit", the scale of the accommodation, the extent of internal subdivision, the provision of a lift core, comprehensive fire safety measures and the overall building configuration “give rise to concern that the premises could be capable of functioning in a manner other than as a conventional private dwelling house”.
Hughes contends that “if not appropriately controlled, the building could be utilised for non-traditional residential purposes, including emergency, temporary, or institutional accommodation”.
Hughes requests that should permission be granted, clear and enforceable conditions be attached by the Council to ensure that the development is restricted to use as a single private residential dwelling house only and that the premises shall not be used for emergency accommodation, temporary accommodation, institutional residential use, short-term letting, or any similar non-traditional or quasi-commercial residential use, without the benefit of a separate grant of planning permission.
Hughes states that “the imposition of such conditions would ensure certainty, safeguard residential amenity, and secure that the reinstatement of residential use is achieved in accordance with planning and conservation objectives”.
A spokesman for McColgan and Doherty has confirmed that the planning application is for a private dwelling only.
A decision is due on the application next month.
