Planning refused for 502 homes just outside Dundalk

An Bord Pleanála has refused an appeal by Marina Quarter Ltd against Louth County Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for a 502 unit Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) at Haggardstown, Dundalk.

Marina Quarter Ltd, a subsidiary of Glenveagh Homes Ltd, lodged the appeal with An Bord Pleanála in February, having been refused planning permission by Louth County Council in January for the development.

Marina Quarter Ltd had applied for planning permission for the LRD in November 2023 for the development, that would have included the provision of a two-storey creche, and the construction of new dedicated entrance to the R172 Blackrock Road.

In its decision to refuse planning permission, An Bord Pleanála said that it was not satisified that “a sufficiently developed commitment  and specific timeframe has been provided that demonstrates the proposed development would have access to an effective wastewater treatment system.”

It said that “the proposed development would be premature having regard to the existing deficiency in the capacity of sewerage facilities, which would set an undesirable precedent for other similar developments  in the surrounding area and would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

The proposed development for which Marina Quarter Ltd was seeking planning permission was a 502 home development,  comprising 26 four-bedroom semi-detached houses; 210 three-bedroom terraced houses and semi-detached houses, some of which include garden sheds; one, three-bedroom bungalow; 214 two-bedroom houses; and 52 one-bedroom maisonettes.

Public open space at the development would total c.4.69ha, of which c.3.09ha comprises strategic amenity space, and private open space, i.e. private gardens serving the houses, bungalow and maisonettes.

The application also proposed vehicular, cyclist and pedestrian access/egress and associated circulation routes, including the construction of new dedicated entrance to the R172 Blackrock Road with a southbound right hand turning lane and a new northbound bus stop, two new pedestrian access points routes to Bóthar Maol and a new pedestrian and cycle path access point along the northeastern boundary to Bóthar Maol.