Works at historic Ramelton building get the go-ahead

An Bord Pleanála has granted permission for development works at a protected 18th century building in Ramelton.

The Ramelton Georgian Society has been granted permission, with revised conditions, by the planning authority for the development at the House on the Brae, Bridge Street, Ramelton.

The group is planning for a change of use to the existing building for use as community facility incorporating staff facilities, co-working area and ancillary services. They are also planning the construction of two storey building with associated site works including platform lift, steps and landscaping between the two buildings.

The plans were subjected to objections by locals, but An Bord Pleanála has given the green light. Initially, Donegal County Council granted conditional permission in 2022, but objectors took a case to An Bord Pleanála.

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The House on the Brae was built around 1760 and was altered in the early 1900s. The building was formerly in use as a Freemasons’ hall/lodge for a period prior to 1811.  After being restored in 1980, it was used as a restaurant and concert hall from 1986-1996, but is currently out of use.

Dr Heidi Steigner of Shore Road Animal Health Centre, in an objection, raised concerns that the structure is not stable. Dr Steigner said the development would create a ‘moral hazard’. She said: “The degree of risk attached to building directly into the east-facing gable wall of the cottage by the construction of the proposed development is unacceptable.”

Mary OIive Fullerton, who lives in the adjacent Convoy Cottage, which was build in 1790, said the plans represent an ‘unsuitable and unsympathetic overdevelopment of the site which will negatively impact local amenity and the privacy of neighbours, as well as damage multiple protected structures’. She said the proposed building is ‘visually completely different to this character and would mark a loss of aesthetic and historic continuity’.

Another local resident, Cassandra Helm, stressed that the restoration of the site or the change of use were not subject to her objection. She wrote: “I object only to the proposed plan to build a modern structure onto and over a beautiful traditional Georgian House and terraced garden, which has already been partially restored.”

In its decision, An Bord Pleanála said that, subject to compliance with the conditions, the development: ‘Would allow for the appropriate use of a Protected Structure, would not adversely impact on the character and setting of the Protected Structure or of other built heritage assets in the area, would not seriously injure the amenities of the area including property in the vicinity and would constitute an acceptable form of development and use at this location’.

The planning authority said it deemed the proposed development to be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

Among the ten conditions set by An Bord Pleanála is that the developer will appoint a conservation architect or suitably qualified professional to manage, monitor and implement world on the site and to ensure adequate protection of the historic fabric during the works.

The repair/restoration works shall retain the maximum amount possible of surviving historic fabric in-situ including structural elements, plasterwork and joinery and shall be designed to cause minimum interference to the building structure and/or fabric.

The developer must facilitate an archaeological appraise of the site and will provide for the preservation, recording and protection of archaeological materials or features which may exist within the site.

Any site operations must be notified to the planning authority in writing at least four weeks prior to commencement and the developer must also employ a suitably qualified archaeologist prior to commencement of development. The archaeologist will assess the site and monitor all site development works.

Works will only be permitted to take place 8am-7pm from Monday to Friday, 8am-2pm on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays to public holidays.