Plans for Blackcastle House development appealed

Plans to build more than 200 homes at Blackcastle Demense in Navan, including the restoration of the derelict Blackcastle House and stables into apartments have been appealed to an Bord Pleanala.

Meath County Council gave the go-ahead to Targeted Investment Opportunities for the development on the 14 hectares site at Blackcastle Demense which is on the north bank of the Boyne.
Once a stunning estate on the banks of the Boyne, Blackcastle House was destroyed by fire in 1987 and is now derelict while the grounds have become a dumping ground with several shells of burnt out cars abandoned there. Blackcastle Demense was put on the market early in 2015 with a guide price of €3m.
To the north of the site are the existing residential developments of Blackcastle Demense including Fitzherbert Court and to the west are residential estates including Herbert Place and Flower Hill Crescent.

The planning application lodged last June sought permission for the construction of 218 units consisting of 129 two-storey houses, six single storey houses designed for the elderly and 83 apartments, including 13 apartments within the restored Blackcastle House and Stables. Blackcastle House is a protected structure.
The development included the demolition of a number of existing outbuildings, and the provision of a 403sqm creche to facilitate 74 children. Also proposed were two new openings to the walled garden, amendments to the entrance to Blackcastle House from the N51, the provision of ESB substation, car parking, public open spaces, landscaping, boundary treatment, new internal roads and footpaths.
Several submissions were received from concerned residents in the area.
A request for further information was made by council planners and revised plans were submitted addressing the issues raised. Meath County Council granted permission for the development subject to conditions just before Christmas. Three parties have now lodged appeals to this decision including Herbert Place Residents Association, Alex and Grace Downey and Sean McGuirk. A decision is due on the appeal on 17th May.

Blackcastle House 

Local councillor Tommy Reilly has outlined his opposition to the number of apartments being proposed in the development. He said: “I am totally opposed to this amount of apartments in a quiet residential area. Residents in Blackcastle Lodge, Herbert Place and Fitzherbert Court all paid big money for their houses and bought them because of the privacy. Building 100 apartments would create havoc.
“If it was an orderly development of good quality homes, I would have no problem with it. It is the massive amount of apartments that I am totally against.”
“My biggest worry is that this is an investment company and they will get planning permission and then sell it off. I’m convinced that is what they will do,” he added.
The site has become an eyesore and focal point for anti-social behaviour over the years and Cllr Reilly said enforcement notices should be served on the owner to force them to clean up the area.
“The owners of this land should have enforcement noticed served on them to remove the cars and rubbish from the area.
“It is a disgrace and it on the banks of the Boyne. There is a big problem there with antisocial behaviour as well,” he said.

Blackcastle House after it was gutted by fire in 1987