Simon apartments in Dundalk get go ahead despite local opposition

Dublin Simon Community has been given the go ahead for an apartment development at the site of the former Labour Exchange Site at Barrack Street in Dundalk, in spite of huge opposition from residents and businesses in the area.

The organisation, which provides services to people across Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, applied to Louth County Council for planning permission in August 2025, seeking the go ahead for the demolition of the existing derelict properties 63, 65 and 67 Barrack Street to facilitate the construction of 21 one-bedroom residential units, within a single three storey block.

The planning application also provided for items including a single storey utility and plantroom building, comprising ESB substation, switch room, water services and bin store, located to the northeast of the site, and a low profile, combined bulk storage and secured bicycle store.

It also includes boundary treatment proposals, landscaping, roads, drainage and lighting treatments across the site.

A significant number of submissions objecting to the planning application had been lodged with Louth County Council, including from residents and local businesses in the area.

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Among the reasons for objecting to the application were antisocial behaviour, health and safety risks, and a negative impact on the quality of life and privacy for local residents.

Louth County Council sought further information on the proposed development in September, with significant further information being submitted on 3 March. Planning permission was granted on 20 March 2026, subject to nine planning conditions.

A public meeting had been held last year, where householders and business owners in the area spoke of how they have been living a nightmare over the last few years, dealing with anti-social behaviour, including open drug dealing and drug taking on a daily basis.

At the time, Cllr Robert Nash called on Louth County Council to listen to the “serious concerns” of residents in the Quay area.

Cllr Nash told the Dundalk Democrat at the time that householders and business owners in the area had been “living a nightmare” over the last few years, dealing with anti-social behaviour on a daily basis, as well as open drug dealing and drug taking becoming the norm outside people's houses and businesses.

The Fine Gael councillor said that residents in the area had become frustrated over the lack of consultation between themselves and Louth County Council, as well as Dublin Simon Community, and despite regular calls to Dundalk Garda Station, he added, the situation had not improved.

Cllr Nash said last year that “the present Simon facility in Barrack Street appears to be failing in its responsibility to fellow residents in the area”, and that that he did not accept that anti-social behaviour happening outside the current Simon facility was a matter for An Garda Síochána, rather than the facility itself.

It is not yet known if the decision to grant planning permission for the development will be appealed to An Bord Coimisiún.