Refusal for 45 new homes in mid-Louth upheld

An Bord Coimisiún (formerly An Bord Pleanála) has refused planning permission for 45 new homes in Ardee, after an appeal was lodged by the developer against the decision by Louth County Council to refuse planning permission for the development.

MRM Structural Limited applied for planning permission in August 2025 for a development at The Blackridge, Townparks, Ardee, comprising 20 two storey and three, three storey dwellings. The proposed dwellings consisted of 20 three-bed units and three four-bed units, as well as 22 apartments units consisting of 11 one-bed units and 11 two-bed units across three buildings.

A proposed Block A comprised four one-bed and four two-bed units over two storeys. Block B comprised three one-bed and three two-bed units over two storeys, while Block C comprised four one-bed and four two-bed units over two storeys.

MRM Structural Limited also sought the go ahead for the creation of a new vehicular and pedestrian access from The Black Ridge road, with associated upgrade works to sections of the existing adjoining access (Black Ridge) road, including the provision of a new footpath.

The application provided for items including the provision of associated car parking at surface level via a combination of in-curtilage parking for dwellings and via on-street parking for the apartment units; provision of electric vehicle charge points with associated site infrastructure ducting to provide charge points for residents throughout the site; and provision of associated bicycle & bin storage facilities at surface level adjoining the apartment units.

Louth County Council made the decision to refuse planning permission for the development on 20 October for four reasons. Included in its decision, the local authority said that the proposed development would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard, saying that it was located in an area served by public roads that are substandard in terms of width, junction alignment, and visibility. 

It added that the existing road network is "significantly below the minimum standards required to safely accommodate the traffic generated by a development of this scale"; as well as saying that the proposed density of housing was considered excessive for the location and "inconsistent with the prevailing pattern of development".

An Bord Coimisiún made the decision to refuse planning permission on 30 March 2026. It said in its reasons for refusing planning permission that: "Having regard to the layout of the proposed development, and in particular the lack of any permeability or proposed connectivity between the subject site, the town centre and immediately adjacent lands to the west, which are zoned for Town or Village Centre uses in the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027, and having regard to the lack of connectivity with, or a positive orientation towards lands immediately to the north-east of the subject site, which are zoned for use as public open space in the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027, and having regard to the poor quality, functionality and surveillance of public open spaces within the scheme, it is considered that the proposal would constitute a substandard form of development which would fail to successfully integrated into the existing and planned built footprint of the settlement of Andee, would be contrary to Objective HOU 21 of the Louth County Development Plan 2022-20280, which requires a design led approach to be taken to sustainable residential development in accordance with the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlement Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2024) and any associated Design
Manual, to ensure the creation of quality, attractive, and well connected residential areas and neighbourhoods, would be contrary to Objective HOU 23 of the Louth County Development Plan 2022-20280, which requires residential developments
to prioritise and facilitate walking, cycling, and public transport and to include provision for links and connections to existing facilities and public transport nodes in the wider neighbourhood, and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area."