Major hotels, leisure plans for Luttrellstown

A planning application has been lodged with Fingal County Council for a major leisure and commercial development at Luttrellstown Castle, near Castleknock, in Dublin 15. The centre is to be developed over a 10-year period and is one of the largest to be planned in close proximity to Dublin in recent years.

The proposed development envisages a 100-bedroom resort hotel and spa, a second 157-bedroom conference hotel, an equestrian centre with 20 stables and a dressage arena, tennis courts and eight residential clusters involving 112 homes.

Also planned is the refurbishment of alterations to the existing farmyard buildings associated with the castle, modifications and extensions to the existing golf course to encompass 27 holes, and a new single-storey golf clubhouse.

The Resort Hotel and Spa involves a two-storey over basement building of 13,900 sq m and in addition to the 100 bedrooms, there will be be a health centre, function rooms, an undefined number of restaurants, a bar, meeting rooms with ancillary accommodation and parking.

The conference hotel, which is to be three storeys over basement incorporating 15,959 sq m of space will comprise 157 bedrooms, 21 conference rooms, banquet, dining and fitness centres with ancillary accommodation and car-parking.

The equestrian centre will be a single-storey 785 sq m unit comprising 20 stables, storage, ancillary accommodation and outdoor dressage area. There is also to be two new tennis courts.

The eight residential clusters comprising 112 units will include 12 holiday homes part of a rental pool servicing the resort hotel and spa.

The applicants are also seeking permission for the change of use, alterations and refurbishment of existing farmyard buildings to accommodate a convenience shop and 10 units of the total residential accommodation. The new golf club is to include a pro-shop, changing rooms, bars, a restaurant and administrative area and parking.

Permission is also sought for refurbishment of a number of old gate lodges on the estate including Clonsilla Lodge which is to be required for security purposes, refurbishment of Garden House, Farm House and Westmanstown Lodge as well as restoration works to Flanagan's Lodge.

Vehicle access to the site is proposed through existing entrances at Clonsilla Gate, Westmanstown Gate, the existing golf club entrancle and a new entrance to the proposed residential development at north east of the demesne.

Alterations/improvements are proposed to the existing main Clonsilla entrance and Westmanstown Gate entrance. The proposal also involves the demolition of the existing golf clubhouse, maintenance and some other farm buildings.

The developers, Luttrellstown Castle Limited, are seeking a 10-year permission given the scale of the development, which they point out would require a longer than average time-scale to complete.