An Bord Pleanála, Ireland’s national independent planning body, has refused planning permission for the residence of the late Sinéad O’Connor to be transformed into a number of apartments.
The Irish singer died last July, with her first anniversary taking place next Friday (July 26). She was 56 years old.
The Dublin native lived in Bray for 15 years and had always been vocal about her love for the area and its people — with many flocking to the area to mourn her death last year.
July 27, 2023: A makeshift memorial at Sinéad O'Connor's Bray home the day after her death was confirmed. (RollingNews.ie)
In 2021, Sinéad sold the six-bedroom home in the town for "well over the asking price" of €950,000 with BBA Architecture, on behalf of Rachel Corthy, lodging a planning application to convert "Montebello" into five apartments.
An Bord Pleanála have refused the proposed redevelopment of the premises due to the existing way Strand Road looks and how the structure would fit in alongside everything else.
The proposed changes to the residence included the change of the use of the house into five apartments, as well as the construction of a three-story extension to the rear of the pre-existing building, with balconies to the rear and west elevation.
Partial removal of the roof was also proposed in the application, with a proposed third floor level in its place with balconies on the front and east.
August 13, 2012: Sinéad O'Connor was part of the huge crowd on the Bray waterfront to welcome gold medal winning Olympian Katie Taylor back home. (RollingNews.ie)
The proposal also outlined how they wanted to relocate and widen the vehicular entrance to the property, as well as other renovations including additional windows and more.
The refusal was made by An Bord Pleanála with the organisation stating the development would be "out of character" with the existing way Strand Road looks.
They also cited their belief that the renovations would "seriously injure the amenities of the area, would adversely affect the architectural character of the seafront area, and would contravene the objective set out in the Bray Municipal District Local Area Plan."
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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