Historic Dun Leary House to rise again

One of Dún Laoghaire’s most prominent historic buildings is set to be restored following a long and heated planning battle that has gripped the local community for nearly four years.

An Coimisiún Pleanála has granted permission for a scaled-down development at the Dun Leary House site, approving the construction of 87 apartments and crucially requiring the full restoration of the landmark yellow-brick Victorian building.

The decision has been hailed as a major win by Senator Victor Boyhan, who led the campaign to save the structure.

“Saving Dun Leary House was my number one priority,” the Senator told Southside People.

“It was a long campaign with many setbacks and delays, the future of the house has now been secured.”

What Dun Leary House would have looked like if the plans had been green lit.

The original proposal, lodged in November 2021 under the now-defunct Strategic Housing Development (SHD) process, would have seen the construction of 146 build-to-rent apartments, some of them built on top of Dun Leary House itself.

The plans included the controversial removal of the building’s roof and the addition of three storeys of modern apartments, a vision that alarmed heritage campaigners, local residents, and public representatives alike.

Located on a prominent site between Monkstown and Dún Laoghaire town centre, Dun Leary House is an architectural gem with its distinctive yellow-brick façade and commanding views over Dún Laoghaire Harbour.

Its preservation has long been seen as vital to the area’s historical and cultural identity.

Senator Boyhan, an independent member of Seanad Éireann and former Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councillor, was a vocal critic of the SHD fast-track system.

“It was a flawed process that greatly frustrated local citizens from engaging openly with the local council planning system,” he said.

“ABP had a statutory mandate to issue decisions within 16 weeks. However, it took 138 weeks, almost three years, to refuse permission. This made it the longest-running SHD case ever determined by the board.”

With the SHD system now dismantled, a revised application was submitted under standard planning procedures, eventually resulting in a significant compromise.

The new scheme slashes the number of apartments by nearly half and places clear condi-tions on the preservation and refurbishment of Dun Leary House.

The development will see two new apartment blocks constructed on the surrounding lands.

Crucially, the historic house will stand alone and retain its distinctive character, separate from the modern build.

The approved plans align with the Specific Local Objective (SLO) for the site set out in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan, which explicitly called for the conservation of Dun Leary House as a Protected Structure.

“It’s a significant improvement on the previous application,” Senator Boyhan said.

“The new scheme will ensure an appropriate level of new homes are delivered, while safe-guarding a much-loved piece of our local heritage.”

As to whether the developer, Ted Living Ltd, will proceed with the build or sell on the site, Boyhan remains cautious.

“It remains to be seen if the developer will build out the scheme or pass it on. But I do not anticipate a judicial review of the Commission’s decision.”

He added that the focus now must be on honouring the commitments to conservation.

“What’s important is the significance of the Protected status of Dun Leary House and the importance of the SLO attached to the site, both approved and supported by our DLR councillors.

“The community expects nothing less than full restoration in keeping with the character and legacy of this cherished building.”

For Dún Laoghaire, a town rich in history but under constant development pressure, this decision may mark a turning point, one where thoughtful planning, meaningful public engagement, and heritage preservation finally win out over high-rise ambition.