Kildare County Council refuses permission for 76-home scheme at Swan Dowling’s Pub, Limerick Road Naas, Co. Kildare

In context

It is one of 61 housing scheme applications Kildare County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 1,568 nationally. Of the 3,037 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 79% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 22 February 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Kildare County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

(i) demolition of existing vacant part single, part two storey structure on-site (972sq.m), previously in use as a public house; (ii) careful removal of the existing stone wall along the side (western) boundary of the site to be reused within the ground floor of the proposed development; (iii) construction of a mixed-use development comprising 4 no. commercial units, resident amenity room and a creche at ground floor level. Provision of 76 no. residential units (33 no. one- bedroom units, 39 no. two-bedroom units and 4 no. three-bedroom units) at upper floor levels in a part four, part five-storey building. Each apartment will be provided with private amenity space in the form of a balcony/terrace space and communal open space will be provided at first floor level to the east of the site. A total of 182 no. bicycle parking spaces are proposed to serve the development comprising 123 no. resident, 38 no. visitor, 12 no. commercial and 6 no. creche spaces. A total of 54 no. car parking spaces are proposed to serve the development comprising 41 no. resident, 2 no. visitor, 3 no. accessible, 3 no. commercial, 4 no. club car and 1 no. creche spaces. A total of 4 no. motorbike parking spaces. Provision of 2 no. set-down areas for servicing and deliveries at surface level. The proposed development also includes; (iv) all associated site and infrastructural works, including foul and surface water drainage, landscaping, plant areas, site lighting, bin storage and signage necessary to facilitate the development