Council planners have told music star Hozier that planned new guest accommodation at his Co Wicklow period property falls foul of planning rules.
Last year, Hozier, whose full name is Andrew Hozier Byrne, lodged plans to construct ancillary accommodation to his main Oldfort home near Newcastle, Co Wicklow comprising a two bed, two storey detached guest lodge and gym and an adjacent double and single height structure with pitched and flat roofs, for a recreation space.
Hozier has previously secured planning permission from the Council for a basement swimming pool and modern grass roof extension for the home that he purchased for €780,000.
However, in a letter to the multi-award winning Take Me To Church singer-songwriter requesting revised plans and new reports, the Council has told him that it is unlikely to grant planning permission for the guest lodge.
In the letter, the council has told Hozier - due to perform tour dates next week in Mexico City - that the proposed guest accommodation is considered to result in the formation of a new dwelling and that the dwelling "does not represent a necessary dwelling in the rural area".
As a result, the proposed guest lodge "would be contrary to the settlement strategy for the Rural Area" as set out in the Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 to 2028.
On Hozier’s plans for the recreation space, the Council has told him that he is requested to justify the need for an ancillary building of this scale in a rural area which is not related to agricultural use.
In the letter, the Council has requested Hozier to clearly outline the intended use of the proposed recreational space.
The Council state that in Hozier's response, he should clarify if significant numbers of members of the public will be utilising the recreational space and if so what for.
The council state "the use of the proposed structures should not impact on the residential amenity of the area".
The planning authority also state that there are concerns regarding the proposed development "may have on the tree whose canopy falls within the footprint of the proposed development".
The Council state that mature trees on site contribute significantly to the setting of the site and has requested that Hozier submits an arborist report that assesses the potential impact on the root systems of trees in the area.
As part of the raft of further information requested, the Council has also requested Hozier to lodge an archaeologist’s report as the proposed development site is within a zone of archaeological potential at Newcastle.
The Council state that "there is potential for archaeological remains associated with the historic settlement to survive within the footprint of the proposed development which will likely require excavation to facilitate the foundations of the proposed new structures".
The Mexico tour dates are part of a tour following the release of Hozier’s much anticipated third studio album, Unreal Unearth last August which contains hits, 'Eat Your Young’, ‘All Things End’ and ‘Francesca’.
Last December as part of the busy touring schedule, Hozier performed three sold out shows at the 3Arena in Dublin.
The Hozier planning application will become ‘live’ once the 33 year old lodged the revised plans and provides the reports requested.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
