Controversial planning decision for site near Trim Castle, Ireland, contested

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Europa Nostra requests review of controversial planning decision for site near Trim Castle, Ireland

Europa Nostra's Press Releases
26 November 2004

Europa Nostra – the pan-European federation for heritage – has appealed to Mr Dick Roche, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, over the future of Trim Castle’s historic integrity, which is being threatened by the proposed construction of a four-storey hotel on the castle’s setting.

Europa Nostra, with its large membership of over 220 member organisations from 40 European countries, has joined the local protest campaign which is supported, among others, by An Taisce, its main member organisation from Ireland. Mr Otto von der Gablentz, Europa Nostra’s Executive President, has written to the Minister urging him to review his predecessor’s decision that the proposed hotel building was appropriately sited in relation to Trim Castle and his instruction not to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála.

Trim Castle is the most significant Anglo-Norman medieval Castle in the Republic of Ireland retaining its original keep and a substantial portion of perimeter curtain walls and towers. This outstanding historic site of national and European significance was awarded a European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Award in 2002, recognising the excellent conservation work on the castle including imaginative new installations.

Europa Nostra also endorses An Taisce’s recommendation, which encourages Minister Roche to ask Trim Town Council to revoke the sale of the site and the planning permission under Section 44 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, and to request a full review of the planning decision that has resulted in the permit being granted for the construction of the modern hotel building. Pending the outcome of the investigation, Europa Nostra is asking that the ongoing construction work be halted until a compromise agreement for the development of the site has been reached.


For further information please contact:

Charlotte O’Connor, Communications Officer, co@europanostra.org, +31 70 302 40 55

Mark Snethlage, Campaigns Officer, imo@europanostra.org, +31 70 302 40 51