U2's Larry Mullen gets approval for alteration work to Howth house 'nightmare'

Gordon Deegan

U2 drummer Larry Mullen has received some respite from his Howth "house nightmare".

This follows Fingal County Council granting planning permission to Mr Mullen's wife, Ann Acheson, to carry out alterations to Strand Lodge, a "vacant and uninhabitable" house that the couple own.

The couple’s main residence is next door at Claremont Lodge in the Dublin fishing village. They purchased Strand Lodge in 2000 for £1 million (€1.27 million) but nobody has lived in it since.

In 2010, the couple secured planning permission to turn Strand Lodge into two three-bedroom flats, one on the ground floor and one duplex apartment on the first and roof levels.

However, in the new planning application, consultants Tom Phillips + Associates said the 2010 permission "was implemented and built out".

Stephen Barrett, director at Tom Phillips + Associates, stated: "However, the development as constructed was found not to be in full compliance with building regulations, which has rendered some areas of the development uninhabitable."

Mr Barrett told the council that "ultimately this has prevented habitation of the structure as a whole since the previous works were carried out."

Mr Barrett said Strand Lodge is a three-storey residential building in Howth and dates from the mid- to late-19th century and has been heavily modified over time.

"It is currently uninhabitable," Mr Barrett said.

Advancing the case for the planning application, Mr Barrett said: "The alterations are minor in terms of their scale, and their impact on the character and appearance of the existing property, and have been informed by essential regulation requirements, and have allowed for consequential proposed improvements and efficiencies to the existing property."

He said: "The proposal would not result in any new or additional impacts above and beyond those considered under the assessment of the parent permission."

The council granted planning permission after the planning report stated that the new amendments to the house would regularise the development and improve the visual character of the house.

The council planning report said the amendments "are considered to be relatively minor and acceptable overall, subject to conditions". No objections were lodged against the planning application.