The Irish Georgian Society and other heritage groups have expressed concern about plans to build apartment blocks in the grounds of the Georgian parochial house in Slane, Co Meath. Tim O'Brienreprots.
The society is one of a number of groups, including the Heritage Council and An Taisce, to have expressed concern that designated heritage villages such as Slane are under threat from development.
The former parochial house in Slane dates from 1760 and is one of four almost identical houses built around a square which forms the centre of Slane village.
They are listed for preservation in the Meath County Development Plan, and the site falls within an Architectural Conservation Area (ARC).
Slane is a designated heritage village in the development plan and is widely regarded as one of the finest surviving examples of an 18th century estate village.
CA Developments, with an address in Phibsboro, Dublin, has applied to Meath County Council to build 32 residential units in five blocks with associated parking amenities and other services in the back garden of the parochial house.
Plans for the future of the house itself are uncertain.
Attempts to contact the principals of CA Developments were not successful.
According to the planning file, concern has been raised by a variety of organisations including: the Boyne Valley Trust; the Irish Georgian Society; the Slane Historical and Archaeological Society; Slane Heritage Support Group; An Taisce; and the recently formed Slane Village Combined Residents' Association.
According to a submission to the county council from architect and architectural historian Livia Hurley, the historic character of Slane stems from its architectural surroundings which include Slane Castle, Slane mill, canal and bridge as well as the village and its "formal set piece of the square at the crossroads".
Ms Hurley, who is preparing a post-graduate thesis on Slane and at the department of history of art and architecture at Trinity College Dublin, said the 18th century fabric of the village should be protected.
The Irish Georgian Society said the county development plan 2007-2013 proposes enlarging the Architectural Conservation Area and sets out specific objectives to preserve the character of the area.
It also noted the commitment in the development plan 2001-2007 to preserve listed buildings, "including their contextual setting". A resident, Ray Smith, submitted that Slane had come under intense development pressure in recent years, due in part to its proximity to Dublin.