A DOCTOR, a dentist, a barrister and two engineers are among a group of residents who have taken a High Court challenge to proposals to locate a reception centre for asylum seekers in an upmarket area of Dublin.

Broc House, Nutley Lane, Ballsbridge was formerly owned by the Franciscan Order and operated as a student hostel and religious centre.

The judicial review proceedings have been taken by a group of 12 local residents with addresses at Nutley Lane, Nutley Avenue and Elm Park, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

Mr Justice O'Higgins yesterday granted leave to James O'Reilly SC, for the residents, to seek a number of orders, including a declaration that the use of Broc House as a reception centre for some 100 asylum seekers constituted a material change of use of the premises and therefore required planning permission.

It is planned that the asylum seekers will be housed for two weeks in family units in Broc House, which has some 30 bedrooms, and receive orientation services.

The lawyer said Broc House was built in the early 1970s and for several years had housed former students from Gormanstown College, a school run by the Franciscans, who were at UCD.

Student use had fallen and it was used primarily for religious purposes until about the mid-1990s. It was still occupied by members of the Franciscan Order until April 2000 when it was sold to the State.