The owners of Clancy Barracks in Dublin have applied to demolish three-quarters of the existing listed buildings on the site to make way for nearly 1,000 apartments and a series of other commercial buildings.
In one of the biggest planning applications in Dublin city centre in the last 12 months, Florence Properties and Chanterwork Properties Ltd have also sought permission for a 15-storey hotel which, if built, would be one of the largest hotels and one of the tallest buildings in the city.
According to the planning application, which was lodged two days before Christmas, the developers have sought to demolish 31 of the 42 buildings on the site, and partially demolish and refurbish the remaining 11.
Some of the buildings proposed for demolition date back 150 years.
They also want to demolish part of the boundary wall of the Barracks along the South Circular Road.
Yesterday Dublin's Lord Mayor, Mr Michael Conaghan, who is chairman of the local heritage association in the Kilmainham/Island Bridge area, warned that the plan was likely to face strong opposition from the local community.
He said he had yet to see the application, but said he was "totally opposed" to the demolition of any of the protected structures on the site.
The whole site is included in the city council's list of protected structures, and the planning department's description of the application states the buildings proposed for demolition are listed.
According to details provided by Dublin City Council, the planning application will involve the development of more than 100,000 square meters of accommodation on the 13-acre site, which was a military barracks dating back to the mid-19th century. It was one of a number of sites sold by the State in recent years as part of a rationalisation of Army barracks throughout the State.
Dublin City Council had been involved in protracted negotiations between 1998 and 2001 with the Department of Defence on the sale of the barracks to provide social and affordable housing.
These negotiations broke down, and the site was sold to private developers for €25 million in July 2002.
According to the planning notice prepared by the city council, all of the 19th century buildings on the site are protected structures.