Plans to renovate Sean Dunne’s €58m house turned down

Plans to redevelop Ireland’s most expensive house, bought by developer Sean Dunne and his wife Gayle Killilea for €58m in 2005, have been rejected.

Walford, an Edwardian House on an almost two-acre site at 24 Shrewsbury Road, Dublin, was sold last year for €14m to Cyriot-registered Yesreb Holding Ltd, whose owners have not been disclosed.

Those appealing against plans to renovate and extend the house and build four houses in its grounds claim Mr Dunne still has a beneficial interest in the house.

However, the board of An Bord Pleanála decided not to pursue the ownership issues raised during the three-day oral appeal hearing held in its Dublin headquarters during September and October last year.

While the board noted the legal issues raised by the parties, it decided there were already “substantive planning reasons” for refusing permission.

The board said the proposed development would be out of character with the area and have a negative impact on its architectural character.

It would also set an undesirable precedent in “this sensitive setting”.

It also said the proposed development would “seriously injure” amenities and properties in the vicinity of the proposed development.

The board also considered the proximity of the proposed four new houses to the existing house, Walford, and to the site boundaries.

It decided that the houses would be “unduly visually dominant” and would overlook nearby property.

The board stated that the proposed development would be in conflict with the provisions of the current development plan for the area, would seriously injure the amenities and depreciate the value of property in the vicinity.

The board described Walford as house of significant architectural, historical, cultural and social value.