Plans to build more than 200 apartments at the former St Clare’s convent and Bethany orphanage, protected structures in Harold’s Cross, have been lodged with Dublin City Council.

Developers Greg Kavanagh and Patrick Crean last year bought the lands and buildings, which date from the early 1800s, and plan to develop the site through their company, Kavcre St Clare’s Ltd.

The site, which is beside the Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium and opposite Our Lady’s Hospice, has extensive grounds and includes three houses beside the convent lands, numbers 115-119 Harold’s Cross Road, which the developers want to demolish.

A total of 209 apartments and one office building are planned for the site. Some apartments would be located in the old convent and orphanage buildings but most would be in eight new residential blocks up to four storeys in height.

The largest of the new blocks would have 48 apartments, with the other seven ranging in size from 11 to 42 apartments. The three-storey orphanage building would be divided into six apartments with balconies added to one wing. The four-storey convent buildings would have 13 apartments and the main chapel would be converted into offices. A smaller “nun’s chapel” would be converted into a separate residential unit.

An underground car park with 228 car spaces and 212 bicycle spaces is also planned. Some surface-level car and cycle parking, as well as a children’s playground are included in the application.

The convent, chapel and orphanage buildings, which were built between 1806 and 1816, were added to the Record of Protected Structures in 2010 by the city council. The council’s architectural assessment found the convent’s chapels were of particular architectural and artistic interest with decorative cornices, stained glass, decoratively carved fitted pews and tiled or marble floors.

The girls’ orphanage, though plainer, has some surviving original features including staircases, fireplaces, doors, and door and window surrounds.