Dalkey residents 'hot under the collar' concerning couple's sauna and steam room
Gordon Deegan
Residents in a housing estate in Dalkey in south Dublin are getting ‘hot under the collar’ over contentious plans by a couple for a major house revamp that includes, at ground level, a private spa comprising a steam room, sauna and sunken hot tub.
In the latest twist concerning a long-running planning battle between applicants, Rory and Yulianna Finegan and their neighbours at Knocknacree Park, Dalkey, Dublin, the Council has refused planning permission to the couple for the almost complete demolition of their present home and the construction of a new family home.
The Council's refusal is the 5th time that the Finegans have been refused planning permission to redevelop their home since 2022.
Before the current refusal, the Council and An Coimiúsin Pleanála (ACP) have each refused planning permission twice for the two separate redevelopment proposals,
The property was purchased for €1 million in 2021.
In the current scheme, the Finegans were proposing a ‘retrofit’ and upgrading of their 236 sq m 1960s two-storey over-sub-basement dwelling and extending it to be 388 sq m dwelling to include the ground level private spa
However, the proposals sparked widespread opposition amongst their neighbours, with 15 submissions lodged, including one from the Knocknacree Park Residents Association.
On behalf of the Knocknacree Park Residents Association, James Holahan has stated that it was objecting as the proposal involved the unnecessary destruction of a habitable and unique dwelling.
Mr Holahan said that the proposal is out of all proportion - especially height - to the existing homes in the area, representing "another assault on the ambience and visual impact" of the area.
Resident, Paul Engel, told the council that “the proposal for a huge underground spa would entail extensive drilling into granite with the accompanying nuisance of noise and dust over a long period”.
In its refusal, the council states that, having regard for the almost complete demolition of the home and reconstruction of a new dwelling, it would not accord with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Development Plan policy as a strong justification has not been provided for the significant scope of demolition works proposed on the site.
The council has ruled that the proposed development, if permitted, would set an undesirable precedent for the demolition of existing habitable dwellings.
The Finegans now have the option of appealing the refusal to ACP - Mr Finegan is the founder and ceo of Dublin-based accountancy firm, Beyond Accounting, where Yulianna Finegan is also listed as a shareholder.
In the planning report lodged with the application, planning consultant Kevin Hughes stated that “the proposal represents a high-quality and contextually sensitive design that respects the established residential character of Knocknacree Park while providing a modern and efficient home for contemporary family living”.
Mr Hughes stated that “the proposed development represents a sustainable, policy-compliant enhancement of the existing dwelling that achieves the Council’s aims for compact growth, improved energy efficiency, and high-quality residential design”.
