Plans lodged for Large-scale Residential Development in Ardee

Plans are underway for a Large-scale Residential Development Application (LRD) in Ardee that, if given the go ahead, will see the construction of 122 new homes and a creche.

May Ard Developments Limited has lodged a planning application with Louth County Council seeking planning permission for the development, on lands at Dawsons Demesne, Ardee, which would include site excavation works to facilitate the proposed development. The proposed works would see the infilling, raising and reprofiling of ground levels within the site as required with inert materials.

The planned housing development would comprise 48 homes consisting of two, two-bed units; 44 three-bed units; and two four-bed units. The dwellings range in height from single storey to three storey.

It also comprises 74 apartments/duplex units consisting of 17 one-bed units; 32 two-bed units; and 25 three-bed units. The apartment blocks range in height from two storey to three storey in height.

The planning application also provides for associated car parking at surface level via a combination of in-curtilage parking for dwellings and via on-street parking for the creche, duplexes and apartment units, and also the provision of electric vehicle charge points with associated site infrastructure ducting to provide charge points for residents throughout the site.

It also seek permission for the creation of a new access point from Castleguard Road with associated works to include for a cycleway and footpath to the southern and eastern site boundaries. 

A decision is due on the planning application by 11 September, with submissions due by 21 August.

LRDs replace the previous Strategic Housing Development (SHD) process where applications went to An Bord Pleanála for determination. The process is as follows:

An LRD Meeting Request is made with the local planning authority as part of the process when seeking planning permission for an LRD.

Following the receipt of LRD consultation request, the planning authority is required to facilitate a consultation meeting with the applicant within four weeks of the date receipt of such a request.

Following the LRD Meeting, there is a period of four weeks for the planning authority to issue an LRD opinion on whether the proposals constitute a reasonable basis for submitting a planning application on the LRD proposals. This LRD opinion is valid for six months.

A planning application must then be submitted within six months of receipt of an LRD opinion. The developer must make the application documentation available for public viewing on a dedicated website set up for this purpose.

This is aimed at enhancing transparency and public participation in the LRD process.