Ardee hotel part of major mixed-use plan by Estrela Hall
By ArdeePost Reporter
Estrela Hall Holdings Resubmits Ambitious Ardee Hotel Plan
Mixed-use development aims to revitalise historic site with hotel, apartments, and retail units
A significant new planning application has been submitted to Louth County Council that could transform a historic and long-derelict site in Ardee. Estrela Hall Holdings Ltd has lodged a revised proposal for a mixed-use development at Moorehall, Townparks, Ardee — one that includes a new Ardee hotel, apartments, retail units, and a riverside park.
This is the company’s second attempt to gain approval for the site after a previous application submitted in November 2023 was withdrawn in September 2024, before any decision had been made.
A Vision for a Revitalised Ardee
The proposed development targets the long-disused and partially derelict sites of Odea Agri Seeds Limited and the De La Salle Monastery, both of which are listed on the county’s protected structures register. Estrela Hall Holdings is seeking permission to demolish or partially demolish existing outbuildings and sheds, many of which are considered structurally unsound.
The new proposal outlines a four-storey commercial building, with a restaurant and retail unit at ground level and office spaces occupying the upper floors. A three-storey residential building would also be built, housing nine new apartments, ranging from one-bedroom studios to three-bedroom family units.
A major part of the development includes the renovation and adaptive reuse of the existing Odea Agri Seeds building to create 14 apartments, including five one-bed, five two-bed, and four three-bed dwellings. Structural upgrades would involve the removal of all internal floors and the creation of new openings in the external walls, as well as a new raised roof with a band of glazing to enhance light and living space.
A Second Hotel to Complement De La Salle House
Notably, the application also proposes the conversion and extension of the existing silos on-site into a 22-bedroom hotel. This would serve as an ancillary facility to the previously approved 18-bedroom hotel at the nearby De La Salle House, bringing the total planned capacity to 40 hotel rooms across the site.
This move comes amid fresh CSO data showing a sharp decline in the number of new homes granted planning permission in Louth, highlighting the importance of large-scale mixed-use developments in meeting regional housing and tourism needs.
A Complete Urban Transformation
The full scheme includes:
- A revised car parking layout, integrating the one-way traffic system and additional spaces
- Refuse and bicycle storage facilities
- A public plaza and riverside park
- Repairs to the riverbank wall
- Connection to public services and utilities
The application, submitted on July 14, 2025, is currently at the pre-validation stage, and no timeline has been given for when a decision might be made.
If approved, the project would represent one of the most ambitious regeneration efforts in Ardee in recent decades, blending historical preservation with new urban design to meet modern residential, commercial, and tourism needs.