€100m plan for Kilkenny estate appealed

Plans for a €100 million five-star hotel resort and up-market housing development on the grounds of a Norman castle in south Kilkenny have been deemed "unacceptable" by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

On the River Barrow and just 1.5 miles from New Ross, the 550-acre Castle Annaghs estate is the former home of the Butlers of Ormonde and incorporates a castle ruin and 18th century country house.

Ambitious plans for the grounds and period house by the German owner, Tomas Jebbens, and designed by Waterford-based architect, Elliot Designs, have met with criticism from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The department has appealed permission granted by Kilkenny County Council in August to An Bord Pleanála on architectural heritage grounds.

Jebbens hopes to integrate an 80-bedroom hotel into the 18th century Annaghs House, construct 83 hotel apartments within the former walled garden of the house and provide a swimming pool in the courtyard.

Jebbens' family have run a farm on the grounds since 1959.

He also hopes to build an 80-bedroom nursing home and 21 associated sheltered housing units on the grounds.

In a submission to An Bord Pleanála, the department said the proposal is unacceptable in its current form and noted that Kilkenny County Council failed to take up most of the design revision recommendations by the department.

According to the department: "In our opinion the permitted proposal would significantly adversely affect the historic character and fabric of Annaghs House and its curtilage and setting, and the inter-relationship between the two protected structures, Annaghs Castle and Annaghs House."

While not objecting in principle to a development on the site, the department recommended that the developer be required to revise specific aspects of the proposal relating to the hotel, walled garden apartments and golf course.

The hotel, which will appear as an extension to the house, would detract from the dominance of the house on the site, according to the department, and does not have some of the traditional details which would help to give more convincing period appearance.

The department also said the proposed apartment complex should be reduced in size to fit within the original boundary of the walled garden.