Old Downshire House Hotel site in Wicklow could be developed into apartments
The Wicklow PeopleWicklow County Council has received a new planning application to build apartments on the site of the old Downshire House Hotel in Blessington, west Wicklow.
The building, which dates back to the 1820s, sits on Main Street and looks out over the Blessington Lakes. Once a well-known hotel across Ireland, it closed in 2006 after 46 years in business and has since fallen into disrepair. It originally had 27 bedrooms.
In April 2020, the council approved plans for a 104-bed nursing home on the site, along with a café on the ground floor of the former hotel and 30 one-bed independent living units.
However, that development never went ahead, and the property went back on the market in 2023. The site covers 1.8 acres and includes more than 25,000 square feet of accommodation, a walled garden, a bar and lounge, dining room, commercial kitchens, a large function room, meeting rooms, 27 bedrooms and an adjoining residence.
The new plans, lodged by Sraith Fhada Housing Limited, include demolishing non-historic extensions at the back and side of the building. The original hotel building would be restored and converted into a licensed bar and restaurant at ground-floor level, with a covered outdoor seating area and an external lift from Main Street. The first floor would contain three apartments, supported by a new two-storey extension to the rear.
The old coach houses would be refurbished to create a two-storey café and a single-storey apartment. The adjoining townhouse would also be upgraded for use as a two-storey home.
Three new residential blocks are planned for the site: a part-three, part-four-storey building with 21 apartments; a part-four, part-five-storey building with 35 apartments; and a terrace of duplexes and houses up to three storeys, containing nine units.
Vehicle and pedestrian access would be maintained through an upgraded entrance on Kilbride Road, along with new pedestrian links from Main Street. The plans also include landscaping, footpaths, cycling and car parking, public and private open spaces, lighting, waste and water infrastructure, and an electrical substation.
Local councillor Gerry O’Neill has welcomed the proposal, saying it would give the area a much-needed lift. He said the building has suffered serious water damage and vandalism since it was last occupied 13 years ago. He added that the new owners plan to restore the old Downshire building, the coach house and the stable buildings, with a bar, lounge and tea rooms included in the renovation.
“Although we might never see the Downshire in its past glory, it’s good to see works could be happening there in the near future,” he said, adding that the plans include two pedestrian links from the main street and a courtyard between the old and new buildings.
He also called for the scrapping of proposals to remove parking in the town square, saying more spaces will be needed once the Downshire and the former Ulster Bank reopen to the public.
The council is expected to make a decision on the application by January 20, 2026.