Major row brews over Sinead O’Connor’s former Bray home as furious neighbours fight luxury apartment plans
A ROW is brewing over Sinead O’Connor’s former home after a plan to turn it into five luxury apartments went to appeal.
Some locals are up in arms over the proposal which they say will see their homes overlooked by a new block of luxury flats.
Wicklow County Council refused permission for the pretty seafront house - called Montebello - to be refurbished and turned into apartments in April.
Planners said the building would be an “incongruous structure” and would “intrude on views of protected structures in the vicinity of the site” as well as devaluing neighbouring homes.
But now the applicant has gone to appeal to try and overturn the decision, which they claim “is not justified.”
Nothing Compares 2 U singer Sinead bought the house in the coastal town of Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, in 2007 for just under £1.5m.
She sold it in 2021 for around £892,000 and had moved back to London, where she died in Brixton earlier this month aged 56.
Pictures of the six-bed property show how Sinead put her love of colour to work in the home.
The main hallway is pink and purple, the kitchen and living rooms are shades of pink, while a utility room is purple.
In one room the carpet is blue and the walls orange and there is a giant figure painted on the wall in blue above the late star’s bed.
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Locals had hoped a permanent tribute might be put up to the Irish singing sensation at her old home.
But now Montebello looks set to become a planning battleground as locals go head to head with a developer who wants to bring more housing to the area.
The original application to turn the double-fronted house into five apartments was lodged last May by BBA Architecture on behalf of Rachel Carthy.
Designers wanted to demolish a current two-storey rear extension to the property and rebuild it to provide three storeys to create flats with balconies.
Some of the existing roof was to be lost to allow for balconies at the front too, while much of the garden would be lost and two sheds demolished as well as a front porch.
The existing driveway would need to be widened and existing openings widened to add extra doors at the front and east.
The original plans also stated that quoins at the end of the house painted by Sinead in bright colours would be removed.
But neighbours were furious at the proposal, slamming it as ‘overbearing’ and ‘intrusive.’
'OPPRESSIVE'
Next door neighbours Ceceline and Frank Power strongly objected in a letter written on their behalf.
It said: “The proposal amounts to over development of a single family dwelling and would be out of character with the use and design of the attractive period houses along this seafront location.
“This is an attractive period house which has a fine enclosed garden to the rear that is of considerable amenity and aesthetic value to our clients who are retired and spend a lot of time enjoying this pleasant garden or the rear conservatory which is at a lower ground level to the subject site.
“At present they are not overlooked by the existing two storey rear extension which has a low profile hipped roof.
“The developer made no effort to consult with us or any adjoining neighbours. This we would regard as disrespectful and unhelpful.
“This will be considerable and very oppressive for our clients.”
Local David Armstrong added: “Bray is famous as a Victorian seafront.
“In my view it would be improper, careless, and contrary to the Local Area Plan to allow a prominent Victorian heritage property to be dramatically altered in the proposed way.
“It is not appropriate to attach a modern additional storey to a Victorian roofline.”
Gareth Douglas said the development would impact sunlight being able to reach his back garden as well as allowing people to see in.
The council refused the application - but a month later chartered town planner Colin McGill submitted an appeal on behalf of Rachel Carthy.
It reads: “The proposed roof profile to the attic conversion will not detract from the character of the seafront.
“It will not impact on protected structures nor protected views.
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"Relative to the scale of buildings beside the subject site, the proposed development will not have a material impact on the character of the seafront.”
An Bord Pleanála - the Irish national planning body responsible for deciding appeals - is due to determine the house’s fate by September.
