Detailed plans submitted for Tipperary age-friendly housing in former Fethard Convent
Detailed plans to redevelop the former Presentation Convent in Fethard into 19 age-friendly apartments and houses have taken a step forward with a planning application to the Council
Detailed plans have been lodged with Tipperary County Council to build 19 age-friendly accommodation units, between apartments and houses at the former Presentation Convent in Fethard
The Convent, opened in 1862, was vacated by the Sisters in 2020. An architects’ report submitted with the application makes the argument that the original use for the building and site is no longer sustainable, and these new plans are in keeping with the site’s “established social and charitable associations”.
The site is significant in terms of archaeological importance, with 168 metres of Fethard’s famous medieval walls bordering the site. Should the plans go ahead, 49 trees in total will be cut down. A new entrance will be created onto Convent Lane and to Main Street, creating a one-way traffic system.
The plans are extensive, and involved transforming the former convent into 10 apartments, along with day-care accommodation and community spaces. A three-storey extension will link the convent to a new single-storey day care centre with nine age-friendly houses.
The 10 apartments in the Convent building will be mostly one-bedroom apartments with another two two-bedroom ones. Most of these will be on the second floor so a lift will also need to be installed. The nine age-friendly houses are a mix of two-bedroom and one-bedroom houses.
22 car parking spaces are to be created in the south part of the Convent grounds, to the south of the town wall. A sensory garden may also be included in the finished development, in a lawn that was previously part of the Presentation Convent School, which was demolished about fifty years ago.
The day-care centre will be built where there are currently outbuildings and a greenhouse, all of which will be demolished.
It is the intention to repurpose the chapel into a community space, to be rented to local groups and other parties. No substantive alteration is expected to be needed for this use.
Funding of €6.5million was announced in April this year for the project, and at the time it was hoped that construction could begin in the Spring of 2027, following the appointment of a contractor.
A decision on the planning application is due from the Council by early January.