Blackrock Tidy Towns lodges appeal against 502 new homes

The decision by Louth County Council to grant planning permission for a Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) of 502 homes at Haggardstown and Marshes Upper, which include works on the Blackrock Road (R172) and Hardy’s Lane, Dundalk, has been appealed to An Bord Coimisiún (formerly An Bord Pleanála) by Blackrock Tidy Towns.

Marina Quarter Ltd, a subsidiary of Glenveagh Homes Ltd, was granted planning permission last month for the LRD at Haggardstown and Marshes Upper, on a site of c.18.54 ha.

The planned housing comprises 40 one-bed maisonettes; 147 two-bed, mid-terrace, two-storey houses; 276 three-bed, end of terrace and semi-detached, two-storey houses; a three-bed detached bungalow; and 38 four-bed semi-detached, three-storey houses.

Marina Quarter Ltd also sought the go ahead for a two storey creche facility with outdoor secure play area and parking, as well as new access off the Blackrock Road providing for vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access, and incorporating a new bus stop on the Blackrock Road; as well as two pedestrian and cycle only access points provided from Bóthar Maol. 

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Infrastructure and services for the proposed development include surface water infrastructure, water mains and a new wastewater pump station (with temporary storage and associated dosing measures), which would be pumped via a new rising main along the Blackrock Road (R172) and Hardy’s Lane to Finnabair Crescent, where it would discharge to the existing wastewater drainage network.

The application also provides for associated public and private open space, landscaping and amenity areas including a large central park of c.2.7ha, public art, boundary treatments, public lighting, roads, cycleways, footpaths, car and cycle parking, infrastructure and services and all associated site and development works. 

To facilitate the proposed development, Marina Quarter Ltd also sought the go ahead for the excavation, cut and fill, and reprofiling of existing ground levels, and removal of works completed under a previously permitted Strategic Housing Development, including the foundations for five houses is required. The ruins of a former pumphouse would also be removed / demolished as part of the works and existing overhead electrical lines will be undergrounded.

Louth County Council made the decision to grant planning permission for the development on 4 December, subject to 29 planning conditions.

A third party appeal against the decision was made by John Horan O/B Blackrock Tidy Towns, and Aoife and John Henry, on 18 December 2025. It is not yet known when the case will be decided upon.

Marina Quarter Ltd had previously been refused planning permission by Louth County Council for a 502 unit LRD in 2024 at Haggardstown, Dundalk, that would have included the provision of a two-storey creche, and the construction of new dedicated entrance to the R172 Blackrock Road. The decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála, who subsequently refused the appeal.