Developer appeals planning condition for housing at former Marist buildings in Dundalk
Louth County Council granted planning permission for 57 apartments last month
Plans for the redevelopment of the old St Mary's College in Dundalk into a residential development of 57 new apartments have been delayed, following an appeal lodged to An Bord Pleanála by the developer, against one of the planning conditions placed on the planning permission granted by Louth County Council.
Armagh Construction Limited was granted planning permission last month for the development, subject to 24 planning conditions. The applicant lodged a first party appeal with An Bord Pleanála on 28 September, against one of the planning conditions.
According to the details of the appeal lodged with An Bord Pleanála, the appeal is against planning condition number 20. Condition 20 states that "the entire development shall be carried out in one phase. A detailed phasing programme for the entire development shall be submitted for the written agreement of the Planning Authority prior to commencement of any development.
"The applicant shall ensure that no new apartments are occupied until all refurbishment works to adapt the former school to residential use and that all associated landscaping works and boundary treatments are completed in full."
The reason Louth County Council gives for the condition is to "ensure the timely provision of services, for the benefit of the occupants of the proposed dwellings."
The planned development at the former Marist buildings would include the demolition of a two storey sports hall and a single storey science block, and also the outbuildings within the curtilage of the protected structures, as well as the boundary stone wall to Nicholas Street.
The construction of the proposed 57 apartments is in three parts. The first is a three storey apartment block comprising nine apartments in total, of which there are six one-bed and three two-bed units, all with balconies or ground floor terraces.
The second comprises 16 duplex apartments which contains eight two-bed ground floor apartments with associated private open space to the rear, along with eight three-bed duplex apartments at the first and second floor with enclosed terraces at first floor level.
The third part comprises the adaption, extension and change of use of the former St Mary's College, a Protected Structure (Protected Structure Ref. No. 13702025 & 13702026), to provide for a total of 32 apartments with associated adaption works to include for provision of an internal lift and external balconies.
The apartment mix to be provided within the former St Mary's College comprises one studio apartment, nine one-bed units, 19 two-bed units and three three-bed units.
The planning application also provides for the change of use of the former Gospel Hall from Education Use to a community hall and the creation of a new vehicular entrance from Nicholas Street, as well as the refurbishment, reconfiguration and realignment of the interface wall between the sports hall and the original school building.
A decision is due from An Bord Pleanála on the appeal by 9 February 2024.