Changing the use of the utility building to a single rural dwelling.This involves…
Solas Obseravtory , Athdown , Blessington
Proposed development
Changing the use of the utility building to a single rural dwelling.This involves changing the use of the PC/computer room and the Office into two bedrooms. The Utility room that already has kitchen facilities would become the kitchen and living room. No other changes are needed or works needed.The Office and Computer / PC room were needed before the connection of the observatory to the national broadband fibre network. Now their functions can be carried out remotely. Albeit it needs somebody on-site to physically turn on the telescope and to turn the dome in the observatory. It is hoped that these will become automated in time.The change of use is required because there is an existential risk to the development. There have been multiple security incidents, breaks-ins and trespass on-site, all were reported to the Gardai. They recommended security cameras be installed, but these were subsequently vandalised.It is considered that the site is now known to problematic individuals and that the only solution to the current perils is to have somebody living on site. A change of use might be considered urgent.The development is uninsured due to the unreasonable cost of insurance. If there was somebody living on site, insurance would be available at a reasonable cost. The change of use is also to broaden the usage of the observatory. Having somebody on-site would greatly increase the use of the observatory and it would facilitate broadening its usage to education and community outreach. In particular, the plan would be to have astronomy nights for parents and children in the local school, eventually expanding to other schools in Wicklow and further afield. Further details are given on Form B in the attachments
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The council is assessing the application. Submissions from the public are taken in the first five weeks.
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Nearby applications
Other applications on the Wicklow register close to this address.
- 2360082Solas Observatory , Athdown , BlessingtonIn Assessment
Change of use of the utility building into a single rural dwelling to facilitate broadening use of the observatory onsite from research usage to research…
- 2460232Athdown , Blessington , Co. WicklowGranted
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About this page: the facts above come from the statutory public planning register kept by Wicklow County Council and are refreshed weekly (last updated 7 Jul 2026). Applicant names and contact details are not shown. Status labels are PlanningLeads' plain-language reading of the register status and the "Use" label is classified by AI from the public description (see how we use AI); neither is legal advice and the council's file is the record. How we handle this data: privacy notice.
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