Dalkey Home Secures Approval for Luxury Pool and Garden Studio

A luxury home in Dalkey, Ireland, has received planning permission for an outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, and garden studio following an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála. This decision comes after the original application was denied by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in May. The approval allows for a 60 square metre pool and an 11 square metre Jacuzzi to be constructed on a new 106 square metre terrace at Sorrento House, located at No. 1 Sorrento Terrace, overlooking the scenic Killiney Bay.

The planning application, submitted by Sorrento HGT UC, also includes a replacement studio in the home’s extensive garden. The property, which was purchased for €10.65 million in 2021, has a notorious history. In 2015, barrister Rossa Fanning SC, now the Attorney General of Ireland, referred to it as “the unluckiest house in Ireland” due to its involvement in eight legal cases over the previous ten years.

Details of the Approved Development

The approved pool will measure 12 metres in length, 5 metres in width, and have a depth of 1.85 metres. An Coimisiún Pleanála determined that the proposed development would not negatively impact the visual or residential amenities of the area nor harm the local ecology.

In response to the initial refusal by the council, planning consultants Brock McClure expressed their client’s disappointment. The council had rejected the application on the basis that ancillary developments, such as the proposed swimming pool and garden studio, were not permissible in the context of the protected structure and would contravene the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan.

Brock McClure contested this reasoning in an 81-page appeal, asserting that there were “no possible grounds on which this reason for refusal can hold and it should be dismissed outright.” The consultants highlighted the exclusivity of the neighbourhood, noting that there are “numerous precedents existing within the Dalkey area” where similar planning permissions for swimming pools have been granted.

Implications for the Property Market

The successful appeal could have broader implications for property developments in the area. As local authorities grapple with balancing the preservation of heritage sites and accommodating luxury developments, this case could pave the way for similar projects in Dalkey and beyond.

Sorrento House, with its new additions, is expected to enhance the appeal of the property, potentially influencing market trends in an already competitive luxury real estate sector. The decision signals a shift in planning attitudes, which may encourage more high-end developments while still respecting the character of the region.

As the owner prepares to move forward with the project, the outcome marks a significant victory for luxury living in one of Ireland’s most sought-after locales.