Louth County Council overruled on Dundalk apartment development

An Bord Pleanála has overruled a decision by Louth County Council in January to refuse planning permission for 18 new apartments at The Laurels in Dundalk, and has granted permission for the development to go ahead.

STFA Limited applied in June 2024 for planning permission for a development on lands at the junction of The Laurels Road and Patrick Street. The proposed development comprises 18 apartment in a three storey building of which there are 10, one-bed apartments; six, two-bed apartments; and one, three-bed apartment; along with associated residential communal spaces at ground level. 

The planning application also provided for items including the provision of bin and bicycle storage at ground level, boundary treatments, external landscaping, and associated works to the footpath.

Louth County Council made the decision to refuse planning permission on 7 January. In its decision it said that “the design of the subject apartments is considered to be substandard having regard to 'Design Standards for New Apartments – Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2023)' and specifically substandard in terms of the failure to provide functional private amenity space for the ground floor units, communal amenity space that is accessible to all residential units, an absence of storage provision for bulky goods and inadequate provision for adequate and convenient bin and bicycle storage for all residential units."

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An Bord Pleanála said that subject to compliance with the conditions it has set out, "the proposed development would constitute an acceptable quantum and quality of residential development at this location, would not seriously injure the amenities of surrounding properties or detract from the character of the area, would be adequately served by existing and
proposed infrastructure, and would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience.

"The proposed development would be compliant with the provisions of the Local Area Plan and the development plan and would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area."

An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the development on 4 June, subject to 18 planning conditions.