An Taisce against hotel and leisure retreat

An Taisce has lodged one of four appeals against planning permission for turning a Co Waterford mansion and estate into a €100…

An Taisce has lodged one of four appeals against planning permission for turning a Co Waterford mansion and estate into a €100 million golfing, fishing and leisure retreat.

The appeals submitted to An Bord Pleanála relate to plans by Antrim-based developer, Mr Alastair Jackson, to turn the 19th century Whitfield Court House and its 234-acres estate at Powersknock, Whitfield North, Kilmeaden, into a luxury holiday complex.

An Bord Pleanála said it would take an estimated 18 weeks for a decision to be reached on the appeals.

It is understood that three of the appeals were submitted by two individuals and a couple, all living in the Kilmeaden area, and the fourth appeal was lodged by An Taisce.

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The grounds for the appeals lodged by An Taisce and the other three appellants have not yet been made public.

Waterford County Council decided to grant planning permission for the proposed development on December 17th last year.

The plans for Whitfield Court House, built in 1841, include changing its use from residential to a 10-bedroom hotel, and converting and extending the existing stables to accommodate a golf clubhouse.

The planning application also proposes to build a second four-storey, 100-bedroom hotel which will be of four or five-star standard.

Sporting and leisure facilities proposed for the country retreat include an 18-hole golf course, a two-storey over basement leisure centre, a fishing village which will have its own stocked lake, the two-storey clubhouse, and 60 two-storey and three-storey holiday lodges.

The developer also plans building two new, two-storey gate lodges, 32 detached two-storey dwellings, four three-storey over-basement apartment buildings comprising 60 holiday units and 20 two-storey chalets.

It is estimated that the project will cost in the region of €100 million, and could create some 200 new jobs if it goes ahead.

Due to the size and scale of the development, Waterford council attached 25 planning conditions to the planning permission.

The conditions concern traffic safety, waste-water treatment, the prevention of flooding, the protection of fisheries, conservation of flora and fauna and the conservation of the mansion, which is a protected structure.

Whitfield Court House and its estate were once the seat of the Christmas family, who settled in Waterford in the 1700s.

The house and estate were put on the market in 2001 by its owners, international polo player Major Hugh Dawnay and his wife Ms Maria Innes.

It's understood that Mr Jackson's consortium agreed an option to purchase the estate if planning approval was granted for the hotel and leisure project.