Appeal granted on planning condition for Marist buildings in Dundalk
Plans for 57 new apartments at former Marist buildings
The developer behind plans for the redevelopment of the old St Mary's College in Dundalk into a residential development of 57 new apartments, has won appeal made to An Bord Pleanála in relation to one of the planning conditions placed on the planning permission granted by Louth County Council for the development.
Armagh Construction Limited was granted planning permission last year for the development, subject to 24 planning conditions. The applicant lodged a first party appeal with An Bord Pleanála on 28 September 2023, against one of the planning conditions.
The planned development at the former Marist buildings would include the demolition of a two storey sports hall and a single storey science block, and also the outbuildings within the curtilage of the protected structures, as well as the boundary stone wall to Nicholas Street.
The construction of the proposed 57 apartments is in three parts. The first is a three storey apartment block comprising nine apartments in total, of which there are six one-bed and three two-bed units, all with balconies or ground floor terraces.
The second comprises 16 duplex apartments which contains eight two-bed ground floor apartments with associated private open space to the rear, along with eight three-bed duplex apartments at the first and second floor with enclosed terraces at first floor level.
The third part comprises the adaption, extension and change of use of the former St Mary's College, a Protected Structure (Protected Structure Ref. No. 13702025 & 13702026), to provide for a total of 32 apartments with associated adaption works to include for provision of an internal lift and external balconies.
The apartment mix to be provided within the former St Mary's College comprises one studio apartment, nine one-bed units, 19 two-bed units and three three-bed units.
The planning application also provides for the change of use of the former Gospel Hall from Education Use to a community hall and the creation of a new vehicular entrance from Nicholas Street, as well as the refurbishment, reconfiguration and realignment of the interface wall between the sports hall and the original school building.
Armagh Construction Limited had made an appeal against a condition laid out by Louth County Council, that "the entire development shall be carried out in one phase. A detailed phasing programme for the entire development shall be submitted for the written agreement of the Planning Authority prior to commencement of any development.
"The applicant shall ensure that no new apartments are occupied until all refurbishment works to adapt the former school to residential use and that all associated landscaping works and boundary treatments are completed in full."
An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission subject to an amendment of the condition. In its decision, An Bord Pleanála stated that the development shall be carried out on a phased basis, and that "(i)not more than 50% of the proposed new build apartments shall be occupied until works have commenced on the refurbishment of St Mary's College (Protected Strusture) for apartments as provided for in this grant of planning permission, and (ii) no more than 75% of the new build apartments shall be occupied until the refurbishment of St Mary's College has been completed in full, together with all associated development works."