Further details sought on planning application after privacy concerns

SEAN Fitzpatrick has been asked to provide Wicklow County Council with further information regarding his planning application for a house adjacent to his Greystones home.

The council has written to Mr FitzPatrick and his wife Catríona regarding the application, following a submission made by their neighbour, who had concerns regarding privacy. They have six months to furnish the information.

In its letter, the council raised concerns that the plans as submitted have ‘the potential to result in new and significant overlooking of adjoining properties.’ Their specific concerns surrounded extensive glazing at first floor level, the inclusion of first floor terraces and proximity to site boundaries.

‘ The planning authority is unlikely to recommend that planning permission for this development be granted unless it is satisfied that the proposed development would not have a negative impact on the amenities of adjoining properties,’ it wrote.

The council has asked the couple to demonstrate the opposite, and invited them to submit a detailed planning report, photographic survey and cross section.

The application made in November sought permission to demolish an existing single storey, detached, fire damaged dwelling known as Meadow Garden and replace it with a two-storey, four-bedroom detached dwelling.

The house would have a hipped roof, chimney and private amenity spaces to include ground and first floor level external terraces and garden at ground level.

Access to the property would be via Farm Lane, with plans in the application to upgrade the lane.

The Fitzpatrick home, Camaderry, is located adjacent to Greystones Golf Club on Whitshed Road.

Mrs FitzPatrick purchased her husband’s share of the house last summer, following Sean FitzPatrick being having been declared bankrupt in 2010 with debts of €147 million and assets of €47 million following the collapse of Anglo Irish Bank, of which he was chairman.

Meadow Gardens was valued at that time at €550,000. There was a fire at the unoccupied house on the night of September 15, 2011.