Awaiting decisionChange of use

Solas Obseravtory, Athdown, Blessington

Change of use of an observatory utility building to a single rural dwelling in Blessington.

2360197 · Wicklow County Council · Lodged 3 August 2023

Reference: 2360197
Authority: Wicklow County Council
Register status: Invalid or incomplete
Type: PERMISSION
Received: 3 August 2023

Summary

AI-generated

The application proposes converting an observatory utility building into a single rural dwelling to provide on-site security. The conversion will turn a computer room and office into two bedrooms, using existing kitchen facilities.

Change of useobservatorysecurityrural housing

Residential unit: 1

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

Changing the use of the utility building to a single rural dwelling. This involves changing the use of the pc/computer room and the office into two bedrooms. The utility room that already has kitchen facilities would become the kitchen and living room. No other changes are needed or works needed. The office and computer / pc room were needed before the connection of the observatory to the national broadband fibre network. Now their functions can be carried out remotely. Albeit it needs somebody on-site to physically turn on the telescope and to turn the dome in the observatory. It is hoped that these will become automated in time. The change of use is required because there is an existential risk to the development. There have been multiple security incidents, breaks-ins and trespass on-site, all were reported to the gardai. They recommended security cameras be installed, but these were subsequently vandalised. It is considered that the site is now known to problematic individuals and that the only solution to the current perils is to have somebody living on site. A change of use might be considered urgent. The development is uninsured due to the unreasonable cost of insurance. If there was somebody living on site, insurance would be available at a reasonable cost. The change of use is also to broaden the usage of the observatory. Having somebody on-site would greatly increase the use of the observatory and it would facilitate broadening its usage to education and community outreach. In particular, the plan would be to have astronomy nights for parents and children in the local school, eventually expanding to other schools in wicklow and further afield. Further details are given on form b in the attachments

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Application received3 August 2023

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