Armagh Constructions Limited have won their appeal made to An Bord Pleanála in relation to one of the planning conditions placed on planning permission granted by Louth County Council. The developer had lodged plans into Louth County Council outlining their aim to turn the old St Mary’s College building into a residential development of 57 new apartments.
Those plans were initially approved by Louth County Council albeit with 24 planning conditions attached. Last September Armagh Constructions Ltd lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála against one of those conditions.
The proposed development consists of the demolition of a two-storey sports hall and singe storey science block, outbuildings within the curtilage of the Protected Structure and a boundary stone-wall to Nicholas Street.
It is proposed to construct a three-storeyapartment block comprising 9 apartments, with associated private open space in the form of balconies and terraces.
16 duplex apartments with associated private opens space to the rear, with first and second floor enclosed terraces.
The adaptation, extension and change of use of the former St. Mary’s College, which is a Protected Structure to provide 32 apartments with associated internal adaptation works including the provision of an internal life and external balconies.
The change of use of the former Gospel Hall from education use to a community hall.
Access to the site will be via a new vehicular entrance from Nicholas Street with the provision of 50 car parking spaces to serve the development with all associated site, drainage and landscaping works within the site.
The condition from Louth County Council that Armagh Constructions Limited took issue with was that ‘the entire development shall be carried out in one phase’.
They argued that the lending associated with the construction of the development and states that lending institutions will not fund the entire development in a single phase as the capital expenditure is in excess of 15 million euro.
An Bord Pleanála in its decision recommended that the Planning Authority be directed to AMEND Condition 20 as follows:
“The development shall be carried out on a phased basis, in accordance with a phasing scheme which shall be submitted to, and agreed in writing with, the planning authority prior to commencement of any development as follows:
“(i)The first phase shall consist of not more than 50% of the new build apartments to be occupied until works have commenced and the refurbishment of Saint Mary’s college for apartments as provided for in this grant of planning permission.
“No more than 75% of the new build apartments shall be occupied until the refurbishment of Saint Mary’s college has been completed in full together with their associated site development works and to the written satisfaction of the planning authority.
The reason given for this decision by An Bord Pleanála was “to ensure the timely completion of the refurbishment of Saint Mary’s College and the interests of proper planning and sustainable development”.
