Blackrock care home planning application appealed to An Bord Pleanala

The site at the entrance to Knockshee, which is earmarked for a new 42 bed residential care home

The recent decision to grant planning permission  for a new residential care home on the Old Golf Links Road in Blackrock is being challenged, with the case set to go before An Bord Pleanala.

Louth County Council gave the project the go ahead subject to a series of conditions last month but it has now been challenged. Three objections to the project had initially been put forward when planning permission was originally sought last year.

The proposal by Frank Holmes would see a 43 bed care home (area 2,310 square metres and 4.5m high) and associated workshop and car parking built at Knockshee, opposite Felda.

Marshes give go-ahead to amalgamate five units, prompting speculation new retailer is eyeing a move to Dundalk

Management at the Marshes Shopping Centre have been given the go-ahead to amalgamate five units in the centre into one, prompting speculation that a major new retailer could be looking to move into Dundalk.

The Marshes Shopping Centre Limited have been granted planning permission by Dundalk Town Council to amalgamate units 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 into one unit of 600 square metres at ground level.

They also hope to extend the existing mezzanine floor level over part of unit 2, part of units 21 and over units 22, 23 and part of 24 to provide retail, storage and ancillary accommodation.

They also want to change the use of the existing mezzanine floor area from office, storage and ancillary to retail, office, storage and ancillary accommodation.

The overall gross floor area of the revised mezzanine floor level is 650 square metres.

The units in question currently house Gerard, Tom Tailor, the former Herbal Accupuncture shop, eMobile and the former O’Brien’s Sandwich Bar.

Related articles

• Marshes retain hopes of extending centre and building hotel (talkofthetown.ie)

Marshes retain hopes of extending centre and building hotel

The Marshes Shopping Centre retain hopes of significantly extending the centre and building a hotel onto it, after applying to Dundalk Town Council for an extension of planning permission previously granted in 2009.

Plans include an extension to the existing centre of 11,945 square metres, comprising 14 new units and nine new kiosks, which would be accessed from a new covered pedestrian street extending from a new entrance on the Ramparts Road to a new entrance adjacent to the existing shopping centre car park and connecting to the existing mall.

Similar to the existing shopping centre, the proposed building will be 4/5 storey equivalent in height including domed entrance features.

The development would involve modifications to the existing centre, including the incorporation of the mall area located to the east of Penneys into the proposed new units and a change of use of the existing entrance pavilion on the Ramparts Road to a retail use.

A new service yard would also be located to the east of the extension with access from the Ramparts Road and car park.

The Marshes Shopping Centre Ltd also hope to build a four storey hotel of 5,500 square metres, fronting onto the Ramparts Road with tower features on the northwestern and northeastern corners.

The 105 bed hotel would include a reception, bar/restaurant, meeting rooms and ancillary accommodation within a double height ground floor area. It would also have a car park with 80 spaces.

There are also plans for a five-storey building of 4,085 square metres, which would accommodate eight own door office suites on the ground floor and 32 two-bed apartments on four levels above. This would front onto a new link road and contain parking to the rear for 36 cars.

The application also seeks permission for a new link road replacing the existing road (Marshes Avenue) from the Ramparts Road to car park one of the shopping centre to the south. This would be located approximately 60 metres to the east of the existing access road and would link the Ramparts Road to a new roundabout to be provided in the north eastern corner of car park one of the shopping centre. This would require a minor adjustment to the layout of car park one.

Dundalk Town Council are due to make a decision on the application by December 8^th.

Marshes hope to amalgamate five units, prompting speculation new retailer is eyeing a move to Dundalk

Management at the Marshes Shopping Centre are looking to amalgamate five units in the centre into one, prompting speculation that a major new retailer could be looking to move into Dundalk.

The Marshes Shopping Centre Limited have applied to Dundalk Town Council for planning permission to amalgamate units 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 into one unit of 600 square metres at ground level.

They also hope to extend the existing mezzanine floor level over part of unit 2, part of units 21 and over units 22, 23 and part of 24 to provide retail, storage and ancillary accommodation.

They also want to change the use of the existing mezzanine floor area from office, storage and ancillary to retail, office, storage and ancillary accommodation.

The overall gross floor area of the revised mezzanine floor level is 650 square metres.