Plans ongoing for new hotel building, restaurant, retail and apartments in Ardee

Plans remain ongoing for a new development in Ardee, that if given the go ahead by Louth County Council, will see the development of a new hotel building, restaurant, apartments and retail and office units in the mid-Louth town.

Estrela Hall Holdings Ltd applied to Louth County Council in July 2025 for planning permission for the development at Moorehall, Townparks, Ardee, on the sites of disused buildings of Odea Agri Seeds Limited and the De La Salle Monastery, which are both listed on Louth County Council's records of protected structures.

The developer is seeking the go ahead for the demolition or partial 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 is proposing the construction of a three-storey residential building that consists of nine apartments, comprising a one bedroom studio apartment; six, two-bed apartments; and two, three-bed apartments. 

It plans the demolition of the what it says are structurally unsound concrete extensions, and the two-storey corner building attached to the existing protected structure, Odea Agri Seeds Limited, and form new two-storey extensions to the sides within the existing building footprint.

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The developer is proposing the renovation and change of use of the existing disused Odea Agri Seeds building to form 12 apartments, comprising five, one-bed apartments; four, two-bed apartments; and three, three-bed apartments.

The development would also 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 glazing around the outer profile of the building and to improve the floor heights inside the dwellings.

Estrela Hall Holdings Ltd is also seeking planning permission 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.

Along with this, the developer is proposing to modify 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 a revised car parking layout from a previously approved application for De La Salle house, and intends to maintain the one-way system and integrate additional parking spaces to accommodate the expanded development needs.

The application also provides for items including the construction of refuse storage, bicycle storage, public plaza, and river side park; repairs to the riverbank wall; and connection to the existing drainage and services and all ancillary site works associated with the development.

Louth County Council sought further information on the proposed development in September 2025, with this being submitted on 5 March. It is not yet known when a decision on the application will be made.