Summerhill village house plan rejected by council

A PLANNING application for the refurbishment and extension of one of the traditional houses on Summerhill's Main Street has been refused planning permission by Meath County Council.

Blue Knightbridge Property Management Ltd sought permission for the reconstruction and extension of the existing house and its conversion to seven one bedroom apartments including car parking and communal open space in the yard. The proposed extension would be three-storey in height.

Three submissions were made highlighting several points including the history of the house where an altar stone was found in a secret room in the 1950s, that it should be on the list of protected structures, and that is it vital of the character of the village.

Earlier this year, plans to demolish the house and build nine apartments in its place met strong local opposition and the planning application was subsequently withdrawn. And now a fresh planning application lodged in October, was refused permission last week.

The planner agreed with the comments raised by the Conservation Officer's report and that the "scale of the proposed apartment structure is excessive and shall dominate the existing dwelling and surrounding landscape". The planner was also concerned about modifications to the existing structure including the removal of the central chimney and demolition of the rear stone extension.