Businessman Dermot Desmond has won a four-year battle for planning permission to install a dumb-waiter at his Georgian house on Merrion Square, Dublin.
An Bord Pleanála has granted permission to Mr Desmond's company, Illium Properties Ltd, to complete installation of the dumb-waiter and an electrical riser at 71 Merrion Square, formerly the home of the late fashion designer Sybil Connolly.
Permission for the feature was granted, following appeal by the company of a previous refusal of planning permission by An Bord Pleanála and an earlier refusal by Dublin City Council.
The company originally applied for permission for the dumb-waiter to the council in December 2001. The council issued a refusal in July 2002 on grounds the work would constitute an "unacceptable level of damage" to a protected structure of national architectural heritage importance.
It also said that granting the application would make it difficult to resist similar proposals in Merrion Square, "which cumulatively would undermine the Georgian character of the city".
Illium appealed the council's decision to An Bord Pleanála, which also refused permission in July 2003. However following the company's most recent appeal, An Bord Pleanála has reversed its decision, without requesting material changes to the plans.
In its ruling, the planning board said the works were acceptable "insofar as they are entirely reversible and the manner of their implementation generally accords with good conservation practice".
It added that the feature would comply with the proper planning and development of the area.
Illium was granted permission to restore the house, built in 1791 and extended in 1850, by Dublin City Council in May 2001.
In recent years, the building had been used partly as a business, with residential units. Extensive refurbishment was required.
