Planning refused for 24 apartments in Blackrock

Louth County Council has refused planning permission for 24 new apartments at the Old Golf Links Road in Blackrock.

Arbortree Investments Ltd has applied for planning permission in February for a development at Knockshee, Old Golf Links Road, Blackrock, that included the construction of two, two storey apartment blocks consisting of 12 two-bed apartments in each block.

The applicant also sought planning permission for the amendment to a previously approved site layout plan under a previous planning permission, to include additional carparking facilities to accommodate proposed apartment blocks and alterations to the internal road network serving the apartments.

The previous planning application was approved in 2019, and relates to an elderly care centre which included a two storey, 106 bed nursing home, and a two storey apartment structure containing 12 two-bed assisted living units.

The new planning application also provides for the connection to existing public foul sewer, stormwater and watermain services; the provision of all site services, public lighting and public open space amenities; and all associated site development works.

Louth County Council refused planning permission on 10 April for the development, citing three reasons. One of the reasons given was that the site for the development is zoned as B2 ‘Neighbourhood Centre’, the objective of which is “to provide for and improve local neighbourhood facilities”.

The local planning authority said that the development on the site, solely for residential use is not reflective of the intended use of the land having regard to the provisions of the Plan. It said that "the proposed development would therefore materially contravene land use zoning objectives as set out in section 13:12 of the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027, as varied, and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area."