La Touche owners begin the clear-out
PLANNING CONDITIONS MUST BE MET BEFORE DEMOLITION BEGINS
AS OWNERS begin to clear out some of the contents of the former La Touche Hotel, planner Sorcha Walsh said that their planning permission has yet to kick because some conditions must be met. She said that their planning permission includes the retention of the older building and conversion to residential use. The original four walls and roof must be retained.
Ms Walsh was speaking to members of Greystones Municpal District at their recent meeting.
The owners have permission to demolish extensions and newer parts of the building, with a number of conditions including a construction management plan. They haven’t yet provided that so the permission has yet to be invoked. ‘ They say they are moving forward as rapidly as they can, but until then they can’t go in and start demolishing.’
They had started to take out interiors including fixtures and fittings and carpets. They are within their rights to do that. Ms Walsh said that she spoke to the architects and site manager and they are very clear about what they are allowed to do.
While they are allowed clear out the newer parts, they have been asked not to go into the old part at all as it needs a conservation report.
Cathaoirleach, Cllr Gerry Walsh, asked if there was any indication that there may be another planning application.
Ms Walsh said that they can apply at any time if they wish, but that she is just going on the facts as they stand at the moment. ‘An application could arrive to demolish the whole thing. If such an application arrived it would be examined on its merits,’ she said. However, the council has a strong policy of protecting buildings of special merit, Ms Walsh told the members. A conservation report would be drawn up by an architect and include information on how the conversion would be done while protecting the structure. Cllr Grainne McLoughlin said that the La Touche was destabilised when the extension was built. She wondered what a demolition would do to the main hotel.
The developer Kavre La Touche submitted plans in 2015 to develop 26 houses, including five within the shell of the old hotel. The planned homes include a mix of types from three bedroom, three story, to four bedroom, four storey town houses.
There would also be alterations to the centre block of the La Toche Hotel building and demolition of recent side and rear extensions.
The Council requested a number of design changes to reduce the impact on the Architectural Conservation Area and more recently some to provide better footpaths.
A former bank building on the site would be partially demolished and change of use to professional service has been requested.