5 days Ago By Gordon Deegan
The wives of U2 stars Bono and The Edge – Ali Hewson and Morleigh Steinberg – have claimed victory in a planning battle to halt a luxury residential scheme in the affluent south Dublin suburb of Killiney.Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has refused planning permission to Covelo Developments Ltd to construct four ‘very large’ two-storey four-bedroom flat-roofed houses in the grounds of Montebello House on Killiney Hill Road.The council refused planning permission after 37 submissions were lodged by local residents, including Ms Hewson and Ms Steinberg, against the scheme.
Killiney, Co Dublin. (Stock Image). Pic: Getty ImagesBut the planning win may be short-lived, as the Council’s refusal was not based on residents’ objections over loss of privacy, etc.
Instead, permission was denied on the sole ground that Covelo Developments Ltd didn’t plan more residential units for the site, which leaves the door open for revised plans for a scheme in excess of four units.The Council said that, notwithstanding the site sensitivities and constraints, it considers four units ‘would represent underdevelopment of an accessible site with convenient access to frequent public transport services via Killiney Dart Station and facilities in the nearby neighbourhood centre’.The council said the proposal does not adhere to the requirements of its Development Plan 2022-2028’s Compact Settlement Guidelines concerning density ranges applied to locations in Dublin classified as ‘urban neighbourhoods’.
The 26-page planner’s report, which recommended refusal, said the density of four units for a 1.13-acre site ‘constitutes an unsustainable use of land’.Ali Hewson and Bono.
Pic: Matt Baron/REX/Shutterstock (7433879od)The council also had concerns about the layout of the scheme, the impact on the protected structure of Montebello House, the impact on mature trees, and the lack of compensatory measures. It said these must be addressed in any future application.In her objection, Ms Hewson said: ‘The proposed very modern style of the four houses appears to be inconsistent with the existing architectural and historical fabric of the area.
‘We are concerned that this development, by way of its very modern style, flat roofs, and its use of materials, could be significantly out of character with the prevailing architectural styles of the surrounding properties.‘We feel that this development, by introducing modern housing in such close proximity to Montebello House, would significantly alter the character of its setting, thereby contravening these guidelines.Killiney, Co Dublin.
(Stock Image). Pic: Getty Images‘In addition, it is clearly the intention of the applicant to apply for further additional development in closer proximity to Montebello House..
.’ She also added her concerns about sufficient capacity in the urban drainage network.‘The systems historically in this area are subject to problems.
We note the houses each have six bathrooms, which would amount to 24 bathrooms overall, which is a significant increase in the loads into the system, equivalent to about 12 houses as opposed to four applied for.’Ms Steinberg objected on similar grounds: ‘We are concerned that the removal of mature trees will have a significant negative effect on the local environment and its biodiversity.’On behalf of fashion designer John Rocha and his wife Odette Rocha, Luke Hickson from Meitheal Architects said a planned road upgrade ‘indicates that this application is a Trojan Horse for further development of the site and possible consolidation with other surrounding properties’.
Pensioner ‘traumatised’ after struggle with intruder in bedroom of Killiney home Planning consultant for Covelo, Kevin Hughes of Hughes Planning and Development Consultants, told the council the development comprises the development of four contemporary and modestly scaled residential units within the curtilage of the protected structure at Montebello.‘We consider that the proposed development would deliver a high-quality residential scheme at an appropriate residential density, on a constrained site, would not detract from the visual or residential amenities of the area, would deliver a satisfactory level of private open space to future residents of the development, and will complement the built character of the area.‘Finally.
.. the proposal will have no impact on the residential amenity of the area, with the proposed houses appropriately orientated and positioned to have an almost entirely imperceptible impact on the public realm.
’.
