Plans underway to expand Department of Psychiatry at Lourdes in Drogheda

Plans are underway for the expansion of the existing Department of Psychiatry at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

The Health Services Executive Dublin North-East has applied to Louth County Council for planning permission for the construction of a new two storey extension to the existing Department of Psychiatry.

The planned development comprises, at ground floor level, ten inpatient bedrooms and associated ancillary accommodation, and at first floor level, staff offices and ancillary accommodation.

It also includes at roof level, associated mechanical plant within a screen enclosure and PV array, along with minor internal and external alteration works to the existing ground and first floors to facilitate linkage to the new development, including minor external modifications to the existing main entrance. 

Externally the works comprise the reconfiguration and extension of the existing Department of Psychiatry car park into the existing Cross Lanes Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital car park to provide a total of 86 car spaces.

The 86 spaces would comprise 69 relocated car spaces and 17 new additional car spaces for the new extension; along with ten relocated bicycle parking spaces and four new additional bicycle parking spaces.

It would also see the local relocation of the access gate and barriers to the existing site access via the Cross Lane Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital car park, and the extension of the Cross Lanes Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital car park to the north and east, including behind the Mayfield Estate, to provide 51 car spaces relocated from the area occupied by the expanded Department of Psychiatry car park.

A decision is due on the application by 21 December with submissions due by 30 November 2023.