Temporary Accommodation facility in Ardee gets go ahead

An Bord Pleanála has upheld Louth County Council's decision to give planning permission for the change of use of the Ferdia Arms in Ardee to provide for use of the building to a facility that will provide accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Accommodation.

Hadleywood Holdings Limited applied for planning permission in February for retention works, and for the change of use of the development, on lands at the Ferdia Arms fronting onto Castle Street and Barett’s Lane, Ardee. The Ferdia Arms is a protected structure, reference 13823038.

The retention works comprise external alteration works to the facades and internal works to the protected structure which includes for internal partitions and general building refurbishment and adaptation works. The planned development work comprises the change of use of the Ferdia Arms to provide for use of the building to a facility that will provide accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Accommodation.

Planned associated works include for provision of guest accommodation bedrooms, provision of a reception area, a lounge area, a communal room, dining area, toilet and sanitary facilities, plant room, laundry facilities and associated internal works to include for storage rooms.

Other planned works to be carried out to the buildings consist of new window and door openings within the courtyard along with replastering works where required to external facades, as well as the provision of replacement windows on the external façade of the Ferdia Arms aligning Barrett’s Lane.

A Third Party Appeal against the decision was lodged with An Bord Pleanála on 26 April by Ms Linda Winstone, for reasons including economic concerns and the preservation of the building's heritage.

An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the development on 1 November, with revised conditions. Among its reasons for giving the go ahead, An Bord Pleanála said that subject to compliance with conditions set out, "the retention of the external alterations and the proposed change of use to provide temporary accommodation would be an acceptable use for the existing building".