An Bord Pleanála is due to make a decision by July 3rd on plans for an "integrated tourism/recreational facility" on the Abbeville demesne in Kinsealy, Co Dublin, home of the late Charles J Haughey.
Last October, Fingal County Council approved a proposed development by Manor Park Homes for a 70-bedroom hotel, spa leisure centre, 18-hole golf course and clubhouse, 14 "tourist residential units" and 32 houses on the 200-acre estate.
The council's decision was appealed by An Taisce, which said the scheme was "ill-conceived" because it would compromise an architectural conservation area (ACA) and failed to make any provision for the future use of, and public access to, Abbeville House.
Heritage officer Ian Lumley said there was "huge public interest" in the treatment of Abbeville because of its recent political history and the circumstances of its acquisition by Mr Haughey and its sale" in 2003 to Manor Park Homes for a reported €45 million.
One of the conditions was that Mr Haughey and his wife Maureen could continue living in the house. Last February, An Bord Pleanála approved plans by their daughter, Eimear Mulhern, to build a house in the grounds, and it is possible Mrs Haughey could move there.
Mr Lumley said Manor Park Homes's scheme would contravene the zoning, which specifies that "the nature and extent of the facilities to be provided shall be determined primarily by the need to conserve the house . . . and the special landscape character" of the demesne.
"The proposal constitutes a piecemeal development contravening this objective", according to An Taisce's appeal. It would also be "inappropriate" for its ACA designation to build the two-storey over basement hotel in Abbeville's walled garden, as proposed.
The appeal said Abbeville House "is of significant architectural interest because of the quality of work carried out by James Gandon", architect of the Four Courts, the Custom House and the King's Inns, including the late 18th-century ballroom, stables and dairy.
Noting that 20 of the houses would be detached, with five or six bedrooms, it said this element of the scheme "would generate sprawl-type development" contrary to the greenbelt zoning of Abbeville for an "integrated tourism/recreational facility".
Abbeville is one of only two demesnes in north Co Dublin with this type of zoning; the other is Milverton, near Balbriggan, which is being developed by Treasury Holdings. Treasury is also involved in a village renewal scheme for Kinsealy, near the Catholic church.
Although most of the 18-hole championship golf course proposed for Abbeville "does not pose any significant concerns" on landscape grounds, An Taisce said three of its fairways would represent "an undesirable physical and ecological intrusion" into the parkland.
David O'Connor, Fingal County Council's director of planning, said Manor Park Homes's planning application was "put through a rigorous process", with amendments being sought by way of an additional information request. A full set of drawings of Abbeville House also had to be submitted.
Manor Park Homes also appealed to An Bord Pleanála against some of the conditions imposed in the county council's decision on its plans. Attempts to contact John Moran, the company's land and development director, were unsuccessful.
