Planning refused for apartments at Seatown in Dundalk

An Bord Pleanála has refused a planning appeal against the decision by Louth County Council to refuse planning permission for the development of 44 apartments at the former Rice's Timber Yard at Seatown.

The local authority refused planning permission to Liza Halpin in November 2022 for the development on the site at 19 Seatown Place in Dundalk. Planning was sought for 44 apartments in a development 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 was 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. 

Following the request by Louth County Council for further information in relation to the development in April 2022, significant changes were made, including reducing the proposed height from six storeys to five and a reduction in the number of apartments to 39.

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. 

Louth County Council made the decision to refuse planning permission for the development in November 2022. The decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála in December 2022, with An Bord Pleanála deciding on 15 February to refuse planning permission.

In its decision An Bord Pleanála said that "the proposed development would be contrary to the provisions of the Louth County Development plan 2021-2027, would detract from the residential amenity for future occupants, would set an undesirable future precedent for inappropriately sited and overly dominant structures along the Ramparts River, and would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area."

It also said that "the layout and configuration of the proposed development, whereby a large number of balconies and habitable room windows on the building's western elevation are sited within close proximity to the western boundary, would compromise the future development potential of the adjoining site and would set an undesirable precedent for similar development in the area.

"The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area."