BREAKING: Landmark Kildare pub set to be demolished to make way for housing

Plans are being made to develop apartments at a well known former pub in Naas.

The former Swan Dowling's licenced premises has been closed for the better part of two decades but a proposal to develop apartments there has been submitted to Kildare County Council.

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The application, in the name of Eamon Cooke (Cooke’s of Caragh) seeks to demolish the building and construct 76 residential units. 

These are mainly two-bedroom units (39)  and one-bedroom units (33) - with four three-bedroom units making up the balance.

The plans also envisage a mixed use development made up of four commercial units, a resident amenity room (a shared area providing facilities and services) and a creche.

There is a possibility of a new gastropub being opened there also.

The application says that each dwelling will have a balcony/terrace space and a communal open space will be provided.

There will be 41 car park spaces for residents.

The plans also include 123 bicycle parking spaces for residents as well as four spaces for motorcycles.

In April 2013, KCC approved an unrelated application to demolish the site and replace it with a two storey building with surface car parking provided under part of the structure.

The plan for the two storey building included an office, pub/cafe and pharmacy on the ground floor - along with seven shop units on the first floor.

It was also planned to provide 90 car park spaces and 18 bicycle parking spaces.

More recently, in August 2022, Sallins-based Derrin Homes bought the site - reportedly for in the region of €1.7m - with the intention of building new homes but it was subsequently sold.

KCC is due to make a decision by February 25.