COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE
Monday, September 28, 2020
QUESTION NO. 14
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
To ask the Chief Executive to confirm that everything is being done to protect and preserve the historic Katherine Tynan site at Kingswood Heights, will he appreciate the importance of the site and its future potential as a Heritage Centre which would have wide support and will he make a statement?
REPLY:
Whitehall House (Former Katherine Tyan’s House) is referred to in the Council’s Record of Protected Structures - Schedule 2 of the South Dublin County Development Plan 2010-2016 under RPS No. 197. A meeting took place during August 2019 between SDCC (Planning staff & Councils Architectural Conservation Officer) and a representative of the owner, planning consultant and architect, to discuss the lands and the protected structure by way of an initial discussion. The owners were reminded of their obligation of care and advised by the Councils ACO that a survey and condition assessment of the existing protected structure would be required in order to fully understand the work required to restore and re-use the existing building.
During July 2020, the following works were carried out by the owners of the property as an initial step.
- Removal of Ivy, vegetation and rubbish from around the house.
- Creation of a safe and secure access route in and out of the house.
- Removal of Vegetation from Walls around old garden.
- Secure the house as best as possible from further vandalism.
The work above has ensured that the structure is secure and that it would be safe to proceed with any survey work required with regard to safe access to the property. The Chief Executive would welcome the restoration and re-use of the structure and the Planning Authority will support any such plans in accordance with the Architectural Protection Guidelines, however there is no prescriptive measures with regard to the any specific use of the structure. As recommended by the Councils Architectural Conservation Officer any new use that will allow the sensitive adaptive reuse of the protected structure will be very much welcomed.
The lands at Whitehall House still remains in private ownership. South Dublin County Council will if required and as appropriate, provide advice and assistance in relation to how best to advance any proposals to develop the lands and find a suitable new use for the protected structure in order to advance any such project.