After several years of neglect, the historic Clontarf baths site in Dublin looks set to undergo a long-awaited redevelopment.

Permission has been granted to the current owner of the site, former Olympic swimmer Stephen Cullen of Abbeybeg Ltd, to develop a new two-storey, flat roof structure that will incorporate a cafe and restaurant, a craft centre, shop, and art gallery. The proposed development is to form part of a linear park and includes visitor facilities (including parking) for local cultural and recreational activities along the sea front.

Although Mr Cullen could not be reached for comment, he is said to be investing between £4 million and £5 million.

The building is to be designed by architects McCullough Mulvin and is reported to include a landscaped parking area at the front to be developed in conjunction with Dublin Corporation Parks Department.

The approval comes over 10 years after the previous owner, MB Investment, failed to win planning approval for a two storey restaurant and parking facilities on the site of the baths. This application was refused on the grounds that the height of the proposed building would obstruct the sea view.

Although it might be consider somewhat ironic that a former Olympic swimmer will be responsible for the disappearance of the baths, Cullen did buy the historic site in 1997 with the intention of retaining the baths as part of an indoor leisure amenity. However, Mr Cullen told The Irish Times in January this year that this plan was "knocked on the head" when the Westwood leisure centre, incorporating a 50-metre swimming pool, opened in nearby Fairview.

Mr Cullen attempted to sell the baths in 1998 but withdrew them from the market after they failed to make the guide price of £300,000 to £600,000.

Clontarf baths were originally constructed in 1864. In 1886, they were bought by a Mr W.L. Freeman and reconstructed to suit the needs of the Clontarf Swimming Club, in which he was actively involved.

According to local historian Mr Dennis McIntyre, the baths did not change hands again until 1945, when Mr Freeman sold them to a new company called Clontarf Baths Ltd., for £800 on condition that they were kept as a swimming pool. The eight buyers were all members of various swimming clubs, Mr McIntyre noted.

One of the first things the new company did was to remove the centre wall to create a larger swimming area, and discontinue the hot sea baths as the cost of fuel made it uneconomical.

However, the new company soon found themselves in debt and asked Dublin Corporation to take over the baths. The corporation offered the company an annual grant instead, an arrangement that ensured the baths remained as a public swimming facility until about ten years ago when they were closed.