Plans for new hotel, apartments and retail in mid-Louth

New plans are underway for a mixed-use development in Ardee, that if given the go ahead would see the development of a new hotel, apartments and retail units in the mid-Louth town.

Estrela Hall Holdings Ltd has applied to Louth County Council for planning permission for the development at Moorehall, Townparks, Ardee, on the sites of disused buildings of Odea Agri Seeds Limited and the De La Salle Monastery, which are both listed on Louth County Council's records of protected structures.

The developer is seeking the go ahead for the demolition or partial demolition of existing derelict disused buildings and outbuildings/sheds on the existing site, and the construction of a four-storey commercial building to cater for a restaurant and retail unit at ground floor level and office spaces on upper floors.

It is proposing the construction of a three-storey residential building that consists of nine apartments, comprising a one bedroom studio apartment; six, two-bed apartments; and two, three-bed apartments. 

It plans the demolition of the what it says are structurally unsound concrete extensions, and the two-storey corner building attached to the existing protected structure, Odea Agri Seeds Limited, and form new two-storey extensions to the sides within the existing building footprint.

The developer is proposing the renovation and change of use of the existing disused Odea Agri Seeds building to form 14 apartments, comprising five, one-bed apartments; five, two-bed apartments; and four, three-bed apartments. The development would also include removal of all derelict internal floors and creation of additional openings on external walls. It is also proposed to raise the existing roof to create a band of glazing around the outer profile of the building and to improve the floor heights inside the dwellings.

Estrela Hall Holdings Ltd is also seeking planning permission for the conversion and extension of the existing silos building to form a 22 bedroomed hotel building, that would function ancillary to the already granted 18 bedroomed hotel proposed in De La Salle house.

Along with this, the developer is proposing a revised car parking layout from a previously approved application for De La Salle house, and intends to maintain the one-way system and integrate additional parking spaces to accommodate the expanded development needs.

The application also provides for items including the construction of refuse storage, bicycle storage, public plaza, and river side park; repairs to the riverbank wall; and connection to the existing drainage and services and all ancillary site works associated with the development.

A decision is due on the application, which is at a pre-validation stage, by 7 September, with submissions due by 17 August 2025.

Estrela Hall Holdings had previously applied in November 2023 for a similar development at this site, but the application was withdrawn in September 2024, prior to a decision being made.