Plans for five new houses in Seatown overturned by An Bord Pleanála

38 Seatown

Louth County Council’s decision to allow a house in Seatown be demolished in place of three houses and two apartments has been overturned by An Bord Pleanála.

Back in April Valentine Mongey was given the go ahead by the local authority to demolish 38 Seatown and build five dwellings in its place.

However, local residents appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála who found that the proposed development “would seriously injure the residential amenities of neighbouring houses by virtue of the overlooking of rear windows and private rear open space.”

They added that it would reduce privacy for existing residents and lead to overshadowing in their gardens.

They also found that the development would also result in “substandard accommodation that would seriously detract from the residential amenity of future occupants by virtue of the inadequate provision of private open space to serve each residential unit.”

They also said the plans failed to provide windows on all habitable rooms and failed to meet minimum room sizes set out by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

It had been hoped to construct a 3 bed terraced house, two 2 bed apartments and two semi-detached 3 bed houses.

38 Seatown, a three bed end of terrace house on a large site with land beside it, was bought for €110,000 in October 2013.

Plans to convert house at The Crescent into apartments

The Manse at The Crescent

Plans have been drawn up to convert a property at The Crescent in Dundalk into four apartments.

JB Bailey has applied to Louth County Council for planning permission to demolish the 1970’s rear lobby to the back of the property, which is called The Manse.

In its place JB hopes to construct a new two storey rear extension with open storage underneath.

It is then hoped to convert the building from seven flats/bedsits into four apartments, including all necessary site development works.

The listed building overlooks both the old Louth Hospital and Dundalk Garda Station.

Third picket at Ard Dealgan apartments planned for tomorrow

Local councillor Jennifer Green has organised a third picket of the Ard Dealgan apartments in Quay Street for tomorrow afternoon between 4.30pm and 5pm.

In May the Sinn Féin councillor held a first picket there to raise awareness of the social problems the building was causing and followed it up with another event in June.

Vacated in 2009 due to fire safety concerns, the complex has been idle ever since. It remains a nuisance for local residents though with drug dealers reported to be using it, as well as squatters. A number of fires have also taken place there in recent years.

Louth County Council said recently they may look to use the complex for local housing but Cllr Green is encouraging some form of action to be taken and wants people to support the picket to ensure one of the Quay’s biggest problems is rectified sooner rather than later.

Picket at Ard Dealgan apartments this Friday

Local councillor Jennifer Green is inviting interested parties to a second picket outside the Ard Dealgan apartments in Quay Street this Friday from 4.30pm to 5pm.

Last month the Sinn Féin councillor held a first picket there to raise awareness of the social problems the building was causing. Vacated in 2009 due to fire safety concerns, the complex has been idle ever since. It remains a nuisance for local residents though with drug dealers reported to be using it, as well as squatters. A number of fires have also taken place there in recent years.

Louth County Council said recently they may look to use the complex for local housing but Cllr Green is encouraging some form of action to be taken.

Cllr Green calls for Ard Dealgan to be demolished to end residents’ nightmare

Some of the protesters at the Ard Dealgan complex in Quay Street on Friday

The wind and rain on Friday afternoon didn’t deter around 50 residents joining Sinn Féin councillor Jennifer Green at a picket at the Ard Dealgan complex on Quay Street.

Ard Dealgan was built by controversial developer Tom McFeely. The complex has remained unoccupied since 2009 due to health and safety concerns and has deteriorated ever since into the dilapidated eyesore it is now.

Commenting at Friday’s picket, Cllr Green said: “This development has become a nightmare for the residents of the area as it is attracting anti-social elements from all over.

“We have had a number of fires in the complex, the place has been stripped and wrecked and residents are afraid to let their children out because it is just dangerous. As a mother of two boys, I know how curious and how adventurous they can be but the complex is not secured in any way to keep anyone out despite Dundalk Town Council putting money into it a few years ago to do just that. I really dread to think what could happen.”

A ‘Derelict Site’ notice was issued last November to developer McFeely and also to the Beltary Property Finance Ltd Company, who currently hold the mortgage. There has been no communication received from either.

Cllr Green explained: “Between development fees, securing the property, fire services and ambulance call-out charges and the derelict site levies, the Council are owed the guts of €1,000,000 so I can’t understand why they are not aggressively seeking to find out who has responsibility for the complex and attempting to recoup this money.

“We want someone to take responsibility for this building. The complex needs to be demolished as it can’t be restored at this point. There were 73 apartments in the complex, that is 73 families which could have been housed. We have a shortage of social housing in this county. Demolish Ard Dealgan and build proper social and affordable homes in its place. The people of the Quay are entitled to live in a safe environment without fear of letting their children out to play or without fear of abuse when they are walking to the shop.

“The picket shows the anger and determination of this community who came out in their numbers in the wind and rain, to show that they are sick of being ignored and being held to ransom by Ard Dealgan. We need this issue resolved as a matter of urgency.”

Appeal lodged against five new houses planned for Seatown

38 Seatown

An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala against Louth County Council’s decision to grant planning permission for five new homes in Seatown.

Valentine Mongey was given the go ahead earlier this month to demolish 38 Seatown and build five new dwellings in its place.

However, two appeals have now been lodged against the local authority’s decision to grant conditional planning permission.

It had been hoped to construct a 3 bed terraced house, two 2 bed apartments and two semi-detached 3 bed houses.

38 Seatown, a three bed end of terrace house on a large site with land beside it, was bought for €110,000 in October 2013.

Five new houses planned for Seatown

38 Seatown as it currently stands

Conditional planning permission has been granted for five new homes in Seatown.

Valentine Mongey applied for planning permission last November to demolish 38 Seatown and build five new dwellings in its place.

It is hoped to construct a 3 bed terraced house, two 2 bed apartments and two semi-detached 3 bed houses.

38 Seatown, a three bed end of terrace house on a large site with land beside it, was bought for €110,000 in October 2013.

Go ahead given for changes to Carlinn Hall

Some of the existing units in the Carlinn Hall estate in Dundalk

Wonderglade Ltd have been granted conditional planning permission by Louth County Council to change the number, layout and type of house in Carlinn Heath in Carlinn Hall on the Mullagharlin Road.

The company are hoping to reduce the number of houses previously given the go ahead for the cul-de-sac from 42 to 30.

The proposed house types now comprise of one terraced block of five units, 6 four bed semi-detached houses, 12 apartments over two blocks, and seven further houses consisting of five terrace units and two semi-detached units.

Morgan Fuels given go ahead for new building on the Ramparts Road

Morgan Fuels (Ire) Ltd have been granted conditional planning permission to build a new four storey mixed use building at the Ramparts in Dundalk.

The company, owned by Hugh Morgan, plan for the 1,215sqm building to comprise of retail units at the ground and first floor levels (513sqm) with offices above (233sqm) and two 2 bed apartments at the third floor level.

Their application also includes the provision of an electrical sub-station, roof top plant room and site development works.

 

Plans to reduce number of houses planned for Carlinn Heath

Some of the existing units in the Carlinn Hall estate in Dundalk

Wonderglade have applied to Louth County Council for planning permission to change the number, layout and type of house in Carlinn Heath in Carlinn Hall on the Mullagharlin Road.

The company are proposing to reduce the number of houses previously given the go ahead for the cul-de-sac from 42 to 29.

The proposed house types now comprise of one terraced block of five units, one terraced block of six units, two terraced blocks of six units each, comprising five apartments and one duplex, and six semi-detached houses.

The council are due to decide on the matter by January 27^th.