O'Brien challenges ruling on house demolition

Businessman Denis O'Brien has appealed a decision by Dublin City Council to refuse him planning permission to demolish his home on Shrewsbury Road, Dublin 4, and replace it with one nearly triple the size.

Mr O'Brien bought Belmont, a 1904 arts and crafts-style house at number 21 Shrewsbury Road, for €27 million two years ago. Designed by architect Stanislaus Orpen, a brother of artist Sir William Orpen, it is 730sq m (7,857sq ft) and sits on two-thirds of an acre with a swimming pool complex and putting green.

Mr O'Brien is seeking permission, through his Isle of Man company, Grapedown Ltd, to build a detached 2,047sq m (22,033sq ft) two storey over basement house with an annexe. It would have an indoor swimming pool, spa, staff quarters and six reception rooms.

In a submission to An Bord Pleanála, Mr O'Brien disputes the city council's decision that Belmont adds to the character and identity of the streetscape on Shrewsbury Road. Calling the house "substandard" in terms of layout, building regulations and building energy ratings, he says it doesn't meet "the lifestyle and living standard requirements of persons likely to seek residence in this area".

In response to a city council planner's report which says that Belmont's appearance "captures and enhances the character of Shrewsbury Road", Mr O'Brien says it is not listed and "being significantly altered is not of historic, architectural, cultural, artistic and/or local interest and does not make a positive contribution to the character and identity of the streetscape".

He contends the new house would not set an undesirable precedent for similar development, as suggested, but would be of a "high quality of architectural design and materials and provide superior environmental standards".

Mr O'Brien rejects a suggestion in the report that as a corporate asset of Grapedown Ltd, its prime purpose would be for "business development and corporate entertainment".

Saying he would be open to the board imposing a condition of planning permission that the house be used as a private family residence, he says the size reflects "changing requirements for contemporary living".

Neighbours on Shrewsbury Road expressed concern about the scale and height of the development and its chimneys. However, in his appeal, Mr O'Brien said overlooking and overshadowing are not an issue, and there would be no significant increase in emissions from the property's chimneys.