Plans for 18 ‘age-friendly’ residential units on Bridge St

Permission is being sought for works and amendments to two houses on Bridge Street in Cootehill to facilitate a wider development of 18 residential units as part of a major backlands development.

GSL Residential Bridge Street Limited has lodged plans with Cavan County Council for the works at numbers 35 and 37 Bridge Street. All works are proposed in conjunction with previously approved developments at numbers 41, 43 and 45 on the same street.

No 41 Bridge Street is listed as a protected structure in the current Cavan County Development Plan. The latest plans involve renovating and upgrading an existing mid-terrace dwelling house at No. 35 to include minor alterations to elevations and internal fit-out works.

It's also proposed to also demolish and rebuild a single-storey extension to rear of No. 35, and the demolition of the end of terrace building at No. 37 to facilitate vehicular site access from Bridge Street connecting to the proposed development at Numbers 41, 43 and 45.

GSL Residential, which has a registered address at Clondargan, Stradone, also intends to reinstate arched alleyway access to No. 45 Bridge Street for pedestrian use only.

The company is also seeking to revise the layout of their previously approved backlands residential development to incorporate an extended site area including Nos. 35 & 37 and the exclusion of two single-storey townhouses (two-bedroom dwellings) and the addition of a new two-storey duplex block consisting of six duplex units. These will comprising three two-bedroom dwellings at ground floor level and three one-bedroom dwellings on the first floor, together with all associated site development works including connections to public services, the provision of communal open spaces, and car parking.

The total number of new residential units to be build as part of the proposed backlands residential development will be 18, made up of three duplex one-bedroom terraced dwellings, three duplex two-bedroom terraced dwellings, and 12 previously permitted two-bedroom single storey detached dwellings to the rear of the application site.

A report, compiled by Jarlath Johnston, building surveyor, using guidance provided in the Cavan County Development Plan 2022 – 2028, was submitted as part of this latest application.

It says that No. 35 Bridge Street is a two-storey mid-terrace residential building that has a single occupancy in the time prior to it becoming unoccupied.

No. 37 comprises meanwhile is derelict and is described as “currently in a very poor condition". Internal floors and walls have all been removed. An extensive garden extends to the rear of both properties which has become overgrown.

Mr Johnston says that GSL has “identified a local need” for town centre residential units, comprising one and two bed units, suitable for age-friendly accommodation.

A decision is due in early December.