Planning application for hostel units in Laytown refused

Plans to construct a single storey hostel at Alverno House, Laytown, have been refused by Meath Co Council.

Hugh O'Donoghue of Alverno House in Laytown tabled plans with the council earlier this year to construct hostel accommodation with seven dorm rooms to accommodate 28 people.

No works were proposed to Alverno House, which is a protected structure.

Meath Co Council refused the development due to three reasons.

The council believed the plan failed to achieve one of the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 objectives, which is 'to protect, provide for and/or improve town and village centre facilities and uses'.

They considered the development plan to be “incoherent and substandard”. They also stated that there is uncertainty that if approved the development “may seriously injure the residential amenities of property in the vicinity and the residential amenities of future occupants in the area”.

The council also stated that there is concern regarding the development having a negative impact on the current protected structure of Alverno House: “The design, siting and materials of the hostel accommodation development, as proposed, is considered to have a negative effect on the recorded Protected Structure of Alverno House, its character, context and setting.”

The last reason for refusal was that the plans did not include how this development would avoid impacting the River Nanny Estuary and Shore Special Protection Area.