Decision imminent on plans for Navan high-rise schemes

Plans for two major high rise developments at either end of Navan's Academy Street are due to be decided on by Meath Co Council next month.

At the junction of the Dublin Road and Academy Street, the Academy Point Group is seeking permission for an apartment block of up to 10 storeys at the unfinished Academy Square development, which has been an eyesore for more than a decade.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the street at its junction with Circular Road, there is a separate planning application by the Academy Street Partnership for a mixed-use development of up to nine storeys with part of the development to be constructed on the opposite side of Circular Road at its Bridge Street junction.

At Academy Square, the Academy Point Group is seeking permission for a new apartment building to provide a mix of independent living units and apartments.

While Blocks B-H of the original planning application granted in 2002 were constructed, along with the basement of Block A, the economic crash meant Block A was never constructed and scaffolding remains at the end of the building.

The plans submitted in December include a 10-storey building over a basement level made up of two retail commercial units, 24 one and two-bedroom independent living units and 43 one and two-bedroom apartments.

Four submissions were received on the plans including one on behalf of the Academy Square Owners Management Company Ltd raising issues over the basement area and proposed access via the existing basement which it owns and manages stating that its consent was not sought. Another apartment owner said the building "at 10 storeys high would completely dominate and overlook the apartment and significantly impact on the privacy of the residents.

In its further information request, Meath County Council commented that the height was "excessive" and out of character with the adjoining apartment blocks and streetscape, and asked for the plans to be revised and also commented that the density of the proposal was excessive and should be reduced.

The plans were revised as part of the further information response and while the tallest part of the building remains at ten storeys, the height was reduced and number of units was reduced from 67 to 56 and instead of two ground floor retail units (184sqm and 139sqm), one is now proposed of 326sqm.

The design of the building has also been altered and one integrated building is proposed made up of three parts. It is now proposed that the western part of the building running along Academy Street would be seven storeys in height to the front of the site before sloping down to four storeys as it abuts the existing three-storey building at Academy Square.

It is now proposed that the western part of the building addressing the Dublin Road be nine storeys in height to the front of the site before sloping to seven storeys as it abuts the existing six-storey building at Academy Square, while the central part of the building, the tallest element would be ten storeys in height.

The further information response states: "The subject application is endeavouring to finally complete the Academy Square development and given the prominent location of the site, on the main entrance route into Navan from Dublin and adjacent to the River Boyne, the design intention of the development proposal is to deliver a high quality building that will act as a landmark, announcing the entrance into the town. A decision is due to be made on the development on 17th August.

Separately, Meath Co Council is due to rule on Academy Street Partnership's application for the other end of the street on 6th August. The application is made up of two sites, each side of Circular Road.

The planning application for site A at Academy Street's junction with Circular Road sought permission for residential and retail use including a ground floor unit of 574 square metre and 95 apartments in three blocks, ranging in height from three to nine storeys.

Plans for Site B at Circular Road's junction with Bridge street sought permission for a four-six storey building with retail use (313sqm), and office use at ground floor. Office use was proposed from first to fifth floor inclusive with a total of 2,334sqm of office space accommodated in the building.

Concerns were raised by Meath Co Council about the height and scale of the proposed development in a further information request and a number of changes were made to the original proposal.

The number of residential unit was reduced from 95 to 86, a reduction in car parking spaces from 146 to 126, a reduction in height from three storeys to two storeys for the podium car park on site A and an increase in bicycle parking from 318 to 407. The commercial unit on site A has been reduced from 574sqm to 289 sqm and amendments were made to the design, massing and set backs of the proposed buildings with an increase in public realm space to the front of site A addressing Academy Street. A decision is due on 6th August.