Louth County Council grants permission for 172-home scheme at Drogheda, Co. Louth

In context

It is one of 76 housing scheme applications Louth County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 1,561 nationally. Of the 3,032 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 3 July 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.

Permission for a Largescale Residential Development (LRD). This proposal can be viewed via www.Southbanklrd.ie The development comprises a Large Residential Development (LRD 020), “South Bank”, of five No, six storey blocks, comprising 172 apartments, commercial (non-residential) units, and all associated roads/parking/paths, landscaped areas (including a public square to the river) and ancillary buildings,. A permission of 10 year duration is sought, at the discretion of the Louth County Council. The upper five stories comprise apartments all with balconies, and the 5th floor penthouse will be recessed with terraces. At ground floor level there is, variously, further apartments, parking and ancillary storage for the apartments and other non-residential uses. There are 172 apartments in total comprising 73 no. 1- bed apartments, 71 no. 2-bed apartments and 28 no. 3-bed apartments. There are 132 no. car parking spaces, 304 long stay and 121 short stay bicycle parking spaces being provided within the site. The non-residential uses comprise three retail units/café(s) of a total area 253 sq. m. and a crèche of 247 sq. m.. The ancillary buildings comprise provision for an E.S.B. substation (if required) of 25.5 sq. m. and a bicycle store of 33.2 sq. m. The existing, partially built, concrete building which occupies part of the site will be demolished, along with the remains of a building and a shed abutting No. 4 Marsh Road, and two old storage buildings on a lane North of Marsh Road. Vehicular and pedestrian access to the development is via, “New Road” to the East of Scotch Hall Shopping Centre, off Marsh Road. An existing lane off Marsh Road will be used to provide continued access to the Industrial/warehouse units to the South of Marsh Road, for pedestrian and bicycle access and egress for the proposed development, and as an exit for bin lorries and larger delivery vehicles only. A Natura Impact Statement accompanies this application *Significant Further Information Received on 08/05/2026* *Revised notices received 15/05/2026*