Esker House, Esker Road, Esker, Co. Dublin

What’s proposed

(1) Change of use and conversion of existing two storey private house (Esker House) and single storey annex to a Retreat House with ancillary accommodation located in the annex; works to this Protected Structure comprise essential repairs including woodworm, wet rot and damp treatment, refurbished roof timbers, valley gutters, rainwater goods and staircase, new heating and electrical services and the introduction of a new partition and door-set to provide a minor hall and a pastoral office within the old study and complete redecoration of the internal rooms; works to the annex comprise essential repairs including refurbished roofing and rainwater goods, new heating and electrical services and complete redecoration of the internal rooms; (2) change of use and conversion of existing Stable Blocks 1 & 2 to Classrooms / Meeting Rooms and Workshop / Service Room; Stable Block 1 to contain 2 Classrooms and Workshop and Stable Block 2 to contain 4 Classrooms; conversion to include removing existing slates, reinforcing roof timbers and re-roofing using existing slates and details on Stable Blocks 1 & 2 and replacement of existing Velux rooflights on Classrooms 4 & 5 with Velux Conservation Rooflights on Stable Block 2; works include complete redecoration of the internal rooms; (3) demolition of existing c. 1970s double height barn; (4) construction of a new community building consisting of a Main Auditorium (part single storey, part two storey), and single storey secondary hall, canteen, toilets and ancillary accommodation with a floor area of 1073sq.m. (5) demolition of existing c. 1970s derelict Gate Lodge and replacement with single storey two bedroom Gate Lodge for use as caretakers living accommodation with a floor area of 75sq.m. (6) taking down, re-aligning and rebuilding existing c. 1970s stone boundary wall at both sides of entrance to site to provide adequate sight lines along Esker Road and provision of new footpath to both sides of entrance, as required by Roads Department, South Dublin County Council; (7) extension to existing car parking facilities to provide 55 car parking spaces and associated site works including attenuation of drainage; car parking generally to be finished with permeable paving and overflow car park to be finished with 'Grasscrete' paving to preserve the grassland setting; (8) erection of free standing sign inside proposed new boundary wall at Esker Road, 2m long by 0.6m high at height 1.3m from ground level. This application includes an Appropriate Assessment (AA), a Bat Survey and Assessment, a Conservation Impact Study (C.I.S.) and Flood Risk Assessment Report