An appeal by An Taisce against more tourism-related development at Powerscourt Estate, outside Enniskerry,Co Wicklow, has been upheld by An Bord Pleanála on amenity grounds, writes Frank McDonald, Environment Editor.
The Slazenger-controlled company which owns the estate had sought permission for 108 tourist apartments, six retail units, three restaurants and underground parking for 170 cars in its farmyard and courtyard areas.
This was part of a proposal to turn Powerscourt into a Marriott golf resort.
It already has two golf courses, a clubhouse and a shopping mall in the partially restored house, which was badly damaged by fire in 1974.
Nineteen of the 24 members of Wicklow County Council had voted in favour of granting permission for the scheme on the basis that it would be good for tourism. But it was strongly opposed by many residents of Enniskerry.
The appeals board has now overturned the council's approval for the scheme, because the site is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and within the curtilage of "a protected structure of significant national importance".
It said the extent of the intervention in the existing built fabric, the loss of character of the historic enclosures and the scale, bulk and design of the new insert buildings would detract from the architectural integrity of Powerscourt House.
Ruling that it would "seriously injure the visual amenity of the area", the board said the proposed development in the Orchard area of the site would also constitute an excessive extension of the built-up area within the curtilage of Powerscourt House.
This would be visually prominent and obtrusive when viewed from within and outside Powerscourt Demesne and would detract from the architectural integrity of the protected structure, its character, curtilage and setting, the board said.
The proposed development would also "seriously injure the visual amenity of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and would interfere with views and prospects of Powerscourt Demesne which it is considered necessary to preserve."
Last September An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for an eight-storey, 278-bedroom hotel proposed for an area of the estate which is known as the Killing Hollow on the grounds that it would seriously injure the amenity of Powerscourt House.
An Taisce recommended reconsideration of all development proposals affecting the estate, saying it needed to be treated to the highest international standard for heritage properties because of its landscape and architectural significance.