Joe Elliott secures permission for 5-metre sculpture in Dublin home despite driver distraction concerns
Seán McCárthaigh
Planning permission has been granted for a 4.8-metre high stone sculpture in the grounds of the south Dublin home of Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott despite opposition from one of his neighbours who claimed the location of the structure would pose “a hazardous distraction” to motorists.
An Coimisiún Pleanála has approved the installation of the tall structure in the rock singer’s garden at his home in Stepaside House, Stepaside, Co Dublin.
The planning application for the development had been made in the name of the Def Leppard star’s wife, Christine Wunschel.
The Commission rejected an appeal by one of the couple’s neighbours, Louise Harrison, against the decision of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, to approve the erection of the sculpture which has a footprint of 7.2 m².
Subject to compliance with a number of planning conditions, the Commission said the proposed development would not negatively impact on the residential amenity of adjacent properties in the area.
It was also satisfied that the sculpture would not pose a traffic hazard by way of a distraction to drivers.
The Commission said it had taken into consideration the zoning of the site which seeks to protect and improve rural amenity as well as its residential use and existing screening in reaching its decision.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council had noted that the principle of a sculpture within a private garden was permissible under the zoning of the couple’s property if it did not have “undesirable effects.”
Council planners had found that the 4.8-metre-tall sculpture would be set back from the property’s boundaries and would not have “undue visual dominance, overbearance or overshadowing of adjacent properties.”
They observed that the sculpture would be additionally screened by trees in the grounds of Stepaside House.
However, Ms Harrison claimed there were continuous works going on in the couple’s garden with noise levels impacting on her daily life.
She complained that she had to wear earmuffs in her own home for several hours every day or else vacate her house because it was “akin to the noise of an aircraft taking off.”
The appellant told the Commission she had counted 23 large construction trucks making deliveries of rubble and stone to Stepaside House over five days last February.
In her appeal, she claimed there would also be significant noise from what she believed would be a water fountain and pointed out that a similar fountain in Powerscourt Garden could be heard from over100 metres away.
In reply, Ms Wunschel claimed all development on the site had been investigated and no unauthorised works were taking place.
She claimed the sculpture would be screened by a two-metre boundary wall on their property in front of a line of mature trees.
Ms Wunschel disputed her neighbour’s claim that it would be located at the highest point in their garden and also observed that it was in excess of 46 metres away from the appellant’s home.
Mr Elliott and his wife have secured planning permission to retain several unauthorised developments over the past five years from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for various structures including an extension, a children’s tree house and an unenclosed gazebo structure.
A report by an inspector with An Bord Pleanála noted that a number of enforcement files had been opened on the site over recent years but all have since been closed or rectified.
Following a visit to the site, the inspector said the sculpture would be well screened from the public road and would not impact negatively in terms of noise from the sculpture or any associated water feature.
She also observed that the sculpture was located almost three metres below the southern entrance to the Elliotts’ home and at a lower level than the public road.
