HomeMy WebLinkAbout2560410 - Notification of Decision
MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL
27/07/2026
Ref No: 25/60410
TO: Leah Unicorn Ltd.
C/O Cathal O'Leary
Wexford Enterprise Centre, Strandfield Business Park,
Kerlogue,
Wexford
Y35 R28A
Re Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended)
NOTIFICATION OF DECISION TO REFUSE
Monaghan County Council has by order dated 27/07/2026 decided to REFUSE RETENTION permission
to the above named for the development of land, in accordance with the documents submitted namely
for:- retention of internal alterations to previous approved plans under 20/155 including the following:
1. Conversion of attic of 528.41sq.m. floor area for the provision of 9 no. bedrooms, associated stairs
and lift core. 2. Alterations to previously approved layout of ground floor in relation to 11 no. bedrooms,
storage and staircase locations. 3. Alterations to previously approved layout on first floor in relation to
bedroom, storage and staircase locations. 4. Repurposing of existing ground floor meeting room
(62.00sq.m.) to additional kitchen and laundry facilities. 5. All associated site development work
Significant further information received relates to submitted, Bus time table, site layout plan, Certificate
of compliance and Environmental Protection Checklist at Treacys Hotel, Losset, Kingscourt Road,
Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. for the 3 reason(s) set out on the Schedule attached.
Signed on behalf of Monaghan County Council.
______________________ ________________________________
Date ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
27/07/2026
If you are aggrieved by this decision you may appeal it within four weeks from the day of the decision,
by forwarding your grounds of appeal to The Secretary, An Coimisiún Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street,
Dublin 1, D01 V902. This is a strict time limit.
The appeal must in be writing (either typed or handwritten). You must clearly state your own name
and address. If someone is acting for you, like a planning agent they must clearly state their own name
and address as well as your name and address. You must give enough details to allow An Coimisiún
Pleanála to identify the application you wish to appeal. You must provide your planning grounds of
appeal (reasons and arguments) for your appeal and any items you wish to support your grounds of
appeal. If you are a third party, you must include the written acknowledgement given to you by the
planning authority to confirm it received your submission at planning application stage. The appeal
must be fully complete, with your name and address, the subject matter of the appeal, the full
grounds of appeal and supporting arguments and material, appropriate fee and evidence of payment
of submission fee to the Planning Authority. You must pay the correct fee to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
For more information on how to make an appeal see www.pleanala.ie
25/60410 Leah Unicorn Ltd., Treacys Hotel,, Losset, Kingscourt Road,, Carrickmacross,
Co. Monaghan.
1. The established and permitted use of the premises is as a hotel. Information received by the
Planning Authority on the 16/06/2026 confirms that the premises is currently being used to
accommodate persons seeking international protection and is not operating as a hotel.
The planning status of this accommodation use has not been formally established. Whilst a
Section 5 Declaration request has been submitted in respect of the use, that process remains
ongoing and no determination has been made.
Accordingly, to permit the retention of the development as proposed, to serve the
accommodation use currently occurring on-site, would be contrary to the established and
permitted hotel use granted under previous planning permissions.
To permit the development as proposed would therefore be contrary to the proper planning
and sustainable development of the area.
2. Having regard to the current use of the premises as accommodation for protected persons,
the scale of accommodation provided, the rural location of the site, its separation from
Carrickmacross and other settlement centres, the limited accessibility of services and facilities,
and the reliance upon organised transport arrangements, the Planning Authority is of the
opinion that the retention of the additional bedroom accommodation and associated
alterations represents an unsustainable form of development in this rural location.
The proposed development has not been demonstrated to comply with Policy WSP 1 and
Section 15.10.8 of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031, which require such
accommodation to be located within a serviced and sustainable setting.
The Planning Authority further notes that the Core Strategy seeks to promote sustainable and
balanced development through the settlement hierarchy, with population and development
growth directed towards settlements with appropriate infrastructure, services and facilities.
The applicant has failed to satisfactorily demonstrate that the proposed development is
consistent with this approach.
The proposed development would therefore be contrary to Policy WSP 1 and Section 15.10.8,
the settlement hierarchy, Core Strategy and Housing Strategy of the Monaghan County
Development Plan 2025-2031 and contrary to the proper planning and sustainable
development of the area.
3. The applicant has failed to satisfactorily demonstrate that the existing and proposed level of
occupation can be accommodated within the development to an appropriate standard having
regard to resident amenity, communal facilities, accommodation standards, service provision
and the nature and intensity of the use proposed on-site.
The applicant has not demonstrated compliance with Policy WSP 1 and Section 15.10.8 of the
Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031. The Planning Authority is not satisfied that
sufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that the retained development
would provide an appropriate standard of accommodation for occupants having regard to the
scale and intensity of the use.
The Planning Authority is therefore of the opinion that the retained development would
provide a substandard form of accommodation for occupants, would be contrary to Policy
WSP 1 and Section 15.10.8 of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031, and would
be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.