Ardee plans progressing for new hotel, restaurant and apartments

Plans are progressing, with a decision due from Louth County Council in August, on a proposed new mixed use development in Ardee, that if given the go ahead, will see a new hotel, restaurant, retail space and 23 apartments constructed.

Estrela Hall Holdings Ltd applied to the local planning authority in November 2023 for planning permission for a mixed-use development on the sites of disused buildings of Odea Agri Seeds Limited, and the De La Salle Monastery, both listed on the Louth County Council Records of Protected Structures.

The planned development would consist of the demolition of existing derelict disused buildings and outbuildings/sheds on the existing site and the construction of a four-storey commercial building to cater for a restaurant and retail unit at ground floor level and office spaces on upper floors.

It would see the construction of a three-storey residential building that consists of nine apartments, comprising one, one-bed studio apartment; six, two-bedroom apartments; and two, three-bedroom apartments.

The applicant has plans for the renovation and change of use of the existing disused Odea Agri Seeds building to form 14 apartments, comprising five one-bed apartments; five, two-bed apartments; and four, three-bed apartments. It would include removal of all derelict internal floors and creation of additional openings on external walls.

The development would include removal of all derelict internal floors and creation of additional openings on external walls. It is also proposed to raise the existing roof to create a band of gazing around the outer profile of the building and to improve the floor heights inside the dwellings.

There are also plans for the conversion and extension of the existing silos building to form a 22 bedroomed hotel building that would function ancillary to the already granted 18 bedroomed hotel proposed in De La Salle house.

The planning application provides for the modification of the entrance to the site with the public road on William Street and to create internal vehicular and pedestrian paved routes and car parking, as well as the construction of refuse storage, bicycle storage, public plaza, and river side park.

A decision was initially due on the application in January of this year but following the request from Louth County Council on the proposed development, a decision was put on hold. With the submission of further information on 18 July, a decision is now due from Louth County Council on the application by 14 August.