Early last week it was revealed that the DPA had voted to list certain parts of the site. The decision was met with criticism by several members of the Policy and Resources Committee who claimed it would make the State-owned site difficult to develop.
The Authority waited to comment on its decision process until the listing had been officially published.
“The DPA has agreed that some of the buildings’ exteriors and a small number of interior features, along with some outdoor features such as the roadside wall, railings and gate fronting, should be protected,” said the Authority.
“The Authority also agreed that many of the other buildings on the site should be wholly excluded, therefore limiting the extent of the listing.”
The Authority has also made the argument that the site can still be developed, despite certain parts of it now being protected.
“A listing as a protected building does not in itself prevent future development of a site, and there is significant scope for such sites to be developed provided the protected features are respected,” it said.
“An example of a site containing a large building listed both internally and externally that is currently undergoing development is the former Education Offices on The Grange, which is being converted to a Medical Practice and new housing.
“The Castel Hospital site provides significant opportunity for development of the buildings that were listed as well as the substantial grounds around it, subject to meeting the relevant planning policy objectives.”
You can read the full notice ONLINE.