Louth County Council grants permission for 80-home scheme at Hearthfield, Farrandreg, Co. Louth

In context

It is one of 76 housing scheme applications Louth 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 23 January 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

EXTENSION OF DURATION on PLAN REF: 20/211 - Permission for development at site bounded to the north by Headford; to the east by Farndreg; to the west by a permitted residential development for 80 no. dwellings granted by An Bord Pleanála ABP Ref. 303628-19/Louth County Council P.A. Ref. No. 18/943 and to the south by agricultural lands and existing residential development. Adjoining lands to the west are also the subject of a concurrent planning application for 47 no. dwellings by the same applicant. The proposed development will consist of 67 no. dwellings comprising a mix of both houses and apartment/duplex units. A total of 43 no. houses and 24 no. apartment/duplex units are proposed. Houses include terraced, semi-detached and detached units. Houses range in height from 1 - 2 storeys and have the option for photovoltaic/solar panels on roof slopes. The apartment/duplex dwellings are accommodated in 3 no. 3 storey buildings with balconies provided at first floor level to the rear (west facing elevations). The proposed development will also provide for all site development works including alterations to ground levels; the construction of retaining walls; the rerouting and undergrounding of overhead cables; internal access roads; car parking; footpaths; cycle paths; public lighting; landscaping; services; boundary treatments; and the repositioning of the existing wayleave in the southern part of the site. Access to the proposed development is via a new vehicular access from the Farndreg Estate in the south-eastern part of the site. There is no vehicular access to the permitted development ABP Ref. 303628-19/Louth County Council P.A. Ref. No. 18/943 or to adjoining lands (subject of a concurrent planning application by the same applicant) from the proposed new vehicular access from the Farndreg Estate *Significant Further Information submitted 02/09/20 to allow for revisions to carparking and footpaths, updated archaeological report and more detailed information regarding public lighting and services, a NIS has been submitted as part of the Significant Further Information**