Ashbourne tourist apartment plan angers local residents

Residents in Ashbourne fear plans to build 39 apartments for Airbnb style tourist accommodation could result in anti social behaviour, noise pollution and "jeopardise the fabric of the town."

According to its planning application, Star Stone Property Investments is seeking planning permission for 39 new short-term tourist letting accommodation units and four residential apartments to units 5-11 Killegland Street (aka High Street Ashbourne). Plans require two additional storeys to the building and works also include rearrangement and change of use of some of the existing accommodation on the floors below.

Star Stone Property Group acquired High Street Ashbourne Shopping District in 2022. The company was in receivership until this time.

The property has over 40 commercial tenants within the area including New Look, Boots, Regatta and Gym Plus.

A petition against the proposals has received more than 350 signatures at the time of going to press with locals saying they intend to fight the plans.

Lizzie McGhee who started the petition says people in Ashbourne who have had to contend with ongoing construction, traffic chaos, water service issues and a lack of amenities "have had enough."

"I have lived in Ashbourne my whole life and we are witnessing our once idyllic village transform into a concrete jungle," said Lizzie.

"This proposal threatens not only our peace but also our way of life," she added.

"We don't have ample parking available for all of these proposed tourists. The village has been destroyed with non stop road works over the last couple of years, water disruption has been an ongoing issue and we don't have enough gardai to cover the area."

Plans have created a furore online with fears that the proposed units could be used for asylum seeker accommodation, a claim the company strenuously denies.

The Ashbourne Court Hotel owned by a separate property company is currently closed to the public to house asylum seekers.

The confirmation by the Department of Integration that tented accommodation for asylum seekers will be provided at nearby Thornton Hall has also done little to dispell concerns that developers for High Street Ashbourne have similar plans.

"Nobody knows why Ashbourne has suddenly become attractive for an airbnb.

"It is not a tourist area. I love Ashbourne, it is my hometown but I would not come here on my holidays. We are quite a bit away from Emerald Park and if anyone comes to Emerald Park, they stay at the Pillo Hotel who have a deal with Emerald Park.

Lizzie says local fear anti-social behaviour and noise pollution could become problematic in the quiet area.

"We have seen places like Carrick on Shannnon where people come in and wreck the place. It is a residential area, there are lots of families who live in apartments around Killegland Street."

Local Joe Langan says the development of any new housing in Ashbourne should be for locals not for tourists.

"Adding to some kind of housing stock for the town would be very valuable but this doesn't add to the housing stock at all, this is just 39 units for someone to make more money letting it out per night rather than offer it to local people to rent at a reasonable price," said Mr Langan.

"I draw the line at this thing of Ashbourne suddenly has a big tourist contingent that needs to be taken care of, we don't," he added.

"This is putting 39 airbnb-style units in the centre of a town with a housing crisis."

Niamh Cardiff, spokesperson for Star Stone Property Group told Meath Chronicle the proposed units on High Street Ashbourne would not be used for housing international protection applicants should planning permission be granted.

Ms Cardiff said that Patrick McDermott owner of the property company intends to write a letter to Meath Co Council stating that he would be willing to comply with a stipulation written into the planning application that would prohibit the Star Stone Group from using the units for asylum seeker accommodation.

Ms Cardiff said the objective of the tourist accommodation plans was to "bring Ashbourne back to life" and to create footfall for struggling businesses in the area.

She pointed out that planning permission for no more than four of the 43 units could be sought for residential use due to a lack of a dual aspect design option required to be considered for planning permission. Ashbourne and District Business Association said it was "cautiously optimistic" that the plans would increase trade in the town.

Independent Cllr Joe Bonner has organised a public meeting to discuss this issue in the Ashbourne House Hotel at 7.30pm on Thursday, 23rd May.