Green light for development at Knockboyne House

Major plans for the renovation of Knockboyne House, the former Navan home of Dr Mary Randles and the late Dr Paddy Randles, together with the construction of 22 houses on the site, have been given the green light by Meath County Council.

The landmark property on the Dublin Road, which sits on almost four acres, was purchased by builder Tom Hora in late 2023 and a planning application was lodged in November of last year for the renovation of the period house and a residential development on the site.

Hora Developments Limited's planning application sought permission for the renovation of Knockboyne House including minor internal alterations and the demolition of the non-original lean-to rear annex as well as the renovation of existing derelict stable/coach-house with demolition of lean-to side annex and concrete blockwork extension to rear.

The new 22 new homes proposed include seven three-bedroom terraced townhouses and 11 four-bedroom terraced townhouses as well as two four-bedroom semi-detached houses, one four-bedroom detached house and one three-bedroom detached gate lodge.

The council planner deemed the development to be acceptable in principle but sought further information on a number of points in January of this year. Among them was to agree a setback of the boundary to allow for the council's proposed upgrade of the L505556/R147 junction to allow for active travel facilities, improved permeability with the Baker Hall development and that the proposed exit with left turn only for vehicular traffic on the R147 Dublin Road be changed to pedestrian/cyclist only with vehicular access only from the L50556. Concerns were expressed by the council's ecologist regarding bat roosts on the property and it was requested that a revised site layout be looked at to facilitiate retaining more trees focusing on retaining known bat roosts and adjacent trees that prevent light spill from the proposed properties.

Further information in relation to these and other points was submitted in September and reviewing this, Meath County Council has granted planning permission for the development subject to conditions.

Knockboyne House is a Georgian two-storey residence and has been associated with prominent families in the town over the past century - the McQuillan family who owned the Boyne Stores in Navan and Drogheda; later orthopaedic surgeon De Wytte; and latterly the Randles family, general practitioners in the town.