Decision on future of Moorhill House delayed again

A decision on the future of Moorhill House in Tullamore has been delayed again after Offaly County Council ruled that information received from the proposed developers contains “significant additional data, including information in relation to effects on the environment.”

Cayenne Holdings Ltd., lodged a planning application in August 2023 for refurbishment and restoration works on the Clara Road site of Moorhill House to create a three-bedroom house, along with the construction of 24 one-bedroom apartment units in a single and a three-storey block.

The proposed residential development would include the partial rear demolition of the protected structure with proposed refurbishment and rear single and two storey extension to create a three-bedroom house.

In the curtilage of the protected structure, 24 one-bedroom units are proposed in a single and three storey block with associated site works.

The application stated that the refurbishment work on the main house would "reinstate the significant Georgian-style features of the period property i.e. the sliding sash windows, slate roof, external render, while also retaining the original internal layout at ground and first floor".

The three-storey block being proposed as part of the apartment development would "face out onto the Clara Road" and would "reduce in size and scale where it meets the original house... allowing Moorhill House retain its character and significance on the site."

An architectural heritage impact assessment submitted as part of the planning application described the current condition of Moorhill House as being "derelict, fire-damaged, vandalised... in a state of partial collapse and in dangerous structural condition.”

The council issued a request for further information on the project in August last, and following an agreed request for extension of the period to submit the requested information, the applicants' agents lodged the further information on May 30.

On examination of the further information received, the council has now requested the applicants to publish a further notice in one of the approved papers and erect a site notice due to the fact that the information received contains “significant additional data, including information in relation to effects on the environment.”

Submissions or observations can be made to the council after the receipt of the newspaper and site notices by the council, who have stated that, if notices have not been received by July 22, the application will be deemed to have been withdrawn.

The plans for the refurbishment of Moorhill House attracted a large number of objections from residents living along the Clara Road.