An Coimisiún Pleanála rules on Mount Ave development in Dundalk
An Bord Coimisiún has refused planning permission for 63 houses at Mount Avenue in Dundalk, overturning Louth County Council’s decision to grant planning permission
Louth County Council’s decision to grant planning permission for 63 new houses in Dundalk, at a site located on the eastern side of Mount Avenue, has been overturned by An Bord Coimisiún.
Moffett Investment Holdings ULC was granted conditional planning permission in December 2025, for the development at Mount Avenue, at a site located on the eastern side of Mount Avenue and which is bounded to the north by an, at the time, under construction residential development of 93 homes, and to the south and east by agricultural fields.
The proposed 63 houses are in semi-detached and terraced format ranging in height from two-three storeys.
The application proposed that a single new vehicular access off Mount Avenue would be provided to serve the development, with three separate pedestrian only accesses also provided off Mount Avenue. It was also proposed to construct a pedestrian connection across the stream to adjoining residential lands to the north that are currently under construction.
The planning application also provided for items including, alterations to ground levels across the site and the undergrounding of ESB powerlines; as well as public lighting; Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points and an ESB sub-station; all landscaping and boundary treatments, including the construction of retaining walls in addition to all associated site development works.
Louth County Council granted planning permission on 8 December subject to 28 planning conditions. A third party appeal against the decision was lodged by Wild Ireland Defence CLG on 6 January 2026.
An Bord Coimisiún made the decision to refuse planning permission for the development on 20 July.
In its decision An Bord Coimisiún said that: “it is considered that the proposed development represents a poor quality urban design, which would result in a substandard form of development that would detract from the residential amenities of future occupants and the surrounding area.
“The Commission considered that the design and layout failed to demonstrate a high quality well-designed visually attractive proposal, as required by Policy Objective HOU 20, and in particular considered that proposed dwelling numbers 11-19 and 33-41, by reason of backing onto areas of public open space and communal car parking, would represent an arrangement which would conflict with the principles of good urban design.
“The Commission also considered that the proposed development would fail to make a positive contribution to the built environment and local streetscape, contrary to Policy Objective HOU 30. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. “
It also said that: “In addition, the Commission had regard to the submission received from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, dated the 29th day of January 2025, which, inter alia, recommended a condition requiring the implementation of a buffer area of 20 metres around the Recorded Monument Standing Stone LH007-199, with no ground works to be carried out within the buffer area, including boundary works, landscaping or ground reduction.
“As the proposed development makes provision for a more limited buffer zone of 10 metres, the Commission did not consider this matter to have been resolved, as the Commission could not be satisfied that the proposed development would not adversely impact upon the archaeological heritage of the area.”