COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE
Monday, October 18, 2021
QUESTION NO.14
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
"To ask the CEO if he has any contact in respect of the Katherine Tynan Home on the Green Belt Lands at Ballymount and will he appreciate the view of many that this historical site should be properly preserved and protected into the future as an example of Tallaght's history?".
REPLY:
The Councils Architectural Conservation Officer has been liaising with the owners of Whitehall House (Katharine Tynan House) Ballymount. During 2020 the site was cleared of vegetation and a condition assessment of the property was carried out to identify priority works. On foot of this an application was made by the owners for Architectural Conservation Grant Funding for Protected Structures under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS). Provisional approval for remedial repair and conservation works to the property was awarded in April 2021.
Repair and enabling works are due to start week commencing 11th October 2021 which will see the necessary conservation repairs being carried out to safeguard the structure. The Councils Architectural Conservation Officer will be supervising the works as part of the grant conditions and will continue to liaise with the project architect and contractors during the grant works to ensure works are being carried out adhering to good conservation practice.
In addition to the conservation repair grant works, a Planning Application was submitted during May 2021, under Reg. Ref. SD21A/0148. The proposal was for the refurbishment of Whitehall House, with change of use from disused dwelling to Community Centre. Works will entail refurbishment of the roof and external walls; reinstatement of windows and external doors; ceilings and floors; reinstatement of a conservatory and glazed porch (10sq.m and 5sq.m respectively); new internal stairs and doors; new services and sanitary accommodation; two new single-storey open-fronted structures on part of the footprint earlier outbuildings with an enclosed area for toilets (534sq.m); refurbishment of historic garden walls and gates; upgrading of the existing non historic entrance and approach from the Ballymount Road; and provision for parking on site. A request for Additional Information was issued in July 2021 by the Planning Authority, there are no further updates with regard to the current planning application.