Awaiting decisionChange of use

Castle Stables and Courtyard at Rathfarnham, Grange Road/Rathfarnham Road, Dublin14 D14 FC62 & D14 XT02

Refurbishment and change of use of former stable buildings and depot yards into a cultural, arts, and cafe venue.

PT8SD240 · South Dublin County Council · Lodged 8 May 2025

Reference: PT8SD240
Authority: South Dublin County Council
Register status: In progress
Type: Application Under Part 8
Received: 8 May 2025

Summary

AI-generated

A Part 8 application for the refurbishment and change of use of the former stable buildings and council depot yards at Rathfarnham Castle. The development will provide mixed-use cultural, arts, cafe, restaurant, and retail spaces, including works to Cromwell's Fort.

Change of userefurbishmentculturalcafeheritage

Floor area: 860 m²

Generated from the description above by an AI model and may contain mistakes. The council’s description is the authoritative record.

Official record

Development description

The development will consist of the refurbishment and change of use of the former stable buildings and former council depot yards, to provide mixed-use cultural/arts/cafe/ restaurant uses together with retail use, wc’s, storage areas and a switch room
Works to the building to the north of the castle known as cromwell’s fort (gfa 269m2), and its change of use to two multi-purpose event spaces and associated lobby areas. The proposed works to include: the removal of a modern flat roof covering and the replacement with a pitched roof with zinc finish and rendered masonry gable-ends; the removal of the existing solid floor to the southern internal room and replacement with a new insulated floor slab and the insertion of a new raised floor to the northern room; the removal of infill blockwork from existing openings and the provision of new windows and doors to existing openings; installation of new services, partitions and repair and repointing works as required, including application of lime render finish
Works to the existing single storey former stable buildings (gfa 591m2) within the existing courtyards to the north of the castle and change of use to cultural/arts spaces, retail, café/restaurant, public toilets and ancillary lobby, storage and services spaces. The proposed works to include: the removal of temporary roof coverings and the replacement with slate roof coverings; the minor modification of roof profiles above 2no. Entrance doorways to provide sufficient head height at entrances; the removal of temporary bracing to windows and doors and replacement with new windows and doors to existing openings; the insertion of a new opening to the western perimeter wall to provide a new public entrance to the courtyard immediately to the north of the castle, and the closing up of an adjacent existing doorway opening; the creation of new openings within dividing walls of the existing stable buildings to provide improved connection between the buildings; the construction of a new single-storey mono-pitch extension (gfa 83m2) to the northern elevation of a former stable building; new insulated floor slabs, installation of new services and repair, repointing and lime render works as required
The provision of a new single storey café and restaurant and ancillary support space (area gfa 528m2) within the former council depot yards comprising: the demolition of a section of wall to the north-west to provide access between the proposed restaurant dining area and back of house areas; the construction of a single storey mono-pitch structure in the north-west corner including clerestory windows facing north and west along the existing perimeter walls of the site to provide a café/restaurant dining area, and an associated single storey flat-roof structure to the north to provide ancillary support to the café/restaurant, including kitchens, staff and visitor wcs; the provision of an internal plant room to the rear; the provision of external ancillary support areas including a screened bin store, screened plant enclosure at ground level and screened rooftop plant enclosure; the provision of two new openings within the existing western perimeter wall to facilitate the insertion of secure entrance gates, to provide staff, deliveries and bin store access to the rear of the ancillary space and bin storage areas; the provision of four new openings within the existing western perimeter wall to facilitate the insertion of new glazed window openings to the café/restaurant; repairs and repointing to the existing walls as required
The provision of new, single storey, slated roof structures to the existing structures (gfa 33m2) to the north of the building known as the seismograph building consisting of: a secure bike store area and provision of 10no. Long term bicycle storage spaces including 1no. Enlarged bicycle space for a cargo bike; a secure bin storage area for the retail spaces
The demolition and reconstruction of the walls to the north and west of the northernmost former depot yard
The provision of a new car park on part of the sean keating garden adjacent to the boundary with castleside drive, with entry from the existing rathfarnham road car park, including: the demolition of 2no. Existing gate posts and part of the adjacent existing garden wall and railings, and the removal of 14no. Existing trees to facilitate the construction of a new pedestrian and vehicular entrance, pedestrian footpath and delivery drop-off area; the regrading and relevelling of the existing sunken pond and garden area to provide 54 no. Car parking spaces (including 4no. Accessible parking spaces and 10 no. Ev parking spaces) and 42 no. Short-term bicycle parking spaces to the north of the site and associated landscaping; the reconfiguration of the existing pedestrian entrance gate and new hard and soft landscaping to the north-west corner of the site to facilitate improved pedestrian access
All associated site services, site development works and landscaping comprising: removal of temporary cabin structures from the existing former council depot yards and associated site clearances; the construction of new gated entrance and railings between rathfarnham castle forecourt and the proposed site; the removal of 4no. Car spaces from the existing rathfarnham road car park to provide a new enlarged pavement area adjacent to the entrance to the café/restaurant; the reallocation of the existing bus set down area to accommodate a universally accessible set down area; the local regrading of the footpath within the rathfarnham road car park along the perimeter wall to the west of the courtyards to provide accessible entrance points to the courtyards; the removal of part of southern end of the existing low level boundary wall between the existing car park and rathfarnham road to facilitate a new raised table and improved pedestrian crossing point; installation of a new access control gate to the carpark entrance from rathfarnham road; the regrading and relevelling of the existing surfaces to facilitate universal access throughout the site the provision of new hard and soft landscaping to the existing courtyards; the provision of new secure entrance gates to the existing openings between the park and courtyards; the infilling with masonry construction of an existing unused entrance between the northern courtyard and the park to facilitate the regrading of the courtyard. Installation of new drainage, attenuation and site services and associated trenching and reinstatement works. Installation of new external site lighting to the car parking areas and courtyard spaces; repairs and repointing of existing structures throughout, as required

Key dates

Timeline

Application received8 May 2025

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