Plans progress for 44 apartments at Seatown in Dundalk
Number of submissions made against application
A decision is due by 5 December on a planning application for 44 new apartments at the at the old Rice's Timber Yard at Seatown in Dundalk, following the submission of significant further information to Louth County Council on the proposed development by the developer.
Liza Halpin applied to the local authority in February of this year, for planning permission for development on the site at 19 Seatown Place in Dundalk. Planning was sought for 44 apartments, comprising 23 one-bedroom and 21 two-bedroom apartments. The development would be built in the form of a new six storey apartment building which would contain 40 apartments, and the conversion of an existing two storey brick building to contain the remaining four apartments.
The site of the proposed development is bounded to the north by Seatown Place and the rear of numbers 20 to 24 Seatown Place, to the south by the Ramparts River, and the east and west by lands and the rear gardens of properties fronting Seatown Place. Vehicular and pedestrian access to the site is proposed via the existing established access to Rice's Yard, between numbers 18 and 20 Seatown Place.
A number of submissions had been made objecting to the development, including from St Vincent's School, Dundalk Tennis, Badminton and Squash Club, and Seatown Place Residents c. Downey Planning. Among the reasons for objecting, St Vincent's School said that it was opposed to the scale and design of the proposed buildings. The secondary school is in control of adjoining lands to the west of the site and it is the school's intention to develop them for the provision of sporting facilities for the school. The school said that the proposed six storey development would lead to increased overlooking into the future school facility, leading to concern over child and student protection from overlooking by the proposed development.
Among the reasons cited by Dundalk Tennis, Badminton and Squash Club for objecting, was also in regards to overlooking. The club includes members from age four and over and it said it objects to any new development which overlooks the tennis courts thereby foreseeably compromising the position in relation to the protection of children.
Louth County County sought further information on the planned development, including in relation to the height of the proposed development, impact on adjoining lands, and housing mix. Significant further information was submitted on 11 October, with the local authority now to make a decision on the the development by 5 December.