Courts

Conor McGregor refused leave to demolish Kildare house for mansion with swimming pools and cinema

Proposal not in keeping with county development plan, says council

Exterior of Conor McGregor’s existing home at Castledillon, Co Kildare.
Exterior of Conor McGregor’s existing home at Castledillon, Co Kildare.
Gordon Deegan
Thu Jan 30 2025 - 20:19

Kildare County Council has rejected plans by Conor McGregor to build a mansion complete with a cinema, bar and two swimming pools.

The local authority refused planning permission for the MMA fighter’s application to demolish his five-bedroom home at The Paddocks, Castledillon, Straffan, and replace it with a 32,693sq ft (3,037sq m) six-bedroom family home.

The council has issued its refusal after McGregor refused to reduce the scale of the house.

Last July, the council told McGregor that the design and scale of the proposed home due to its length, massing and scale did not comply with the Kildare County Development Plan and requested him to submit revised drawings to take account of that plan.

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Instead, a submission lodged on behalf of McGregor earlier this month stated that it is clear from revised photomontages submitted that the subject site “has the capacity to comfortably absorb the proposed dwelling without resulting in any undue impacts or dis-amenity to surrounding residents”.

The submission stated that the photomontages demonstrate the careful siting of the proposed home and the large-scale nature of the site.

[ Conor McGregor lodges revised planning application for Straffan home upgrade ]

The submission also contended that the planned home “is largely screened from the view from the adjacent public road and neighbouring properties, any intermittent views are further obscured to the presence of existing and proposed supplementary planting”.

The McGregor plan comprises a two-storey over-basement house complete with a 19.6-metre indoor swimming pool, 21-metre outdoor pool and cinema.

The ambitious plan also includes a sunken basement to include car parking, a bar, a games area and ancillary rooms.

The council refused planning permission after its transport department recommended refusal. An internal report indicates that the department said it is council policy to discourage the increase of access points on to public roads.

McGregor now has the option of appealing the decision to An Bord Pleanála.