Planning application received: Change of use of derelict school to 2 no. semi-detached single storey dwellings, demolish outbuildin

Castleblayney, County Monaghan – Monaghan County Council has received a new planning application (reference 2660220) submitted by private developer Tra O Buachalla. The application concerns the derelict school building located on Annayalla Road in the town, a former educational facility that has been unused for several years. Mr O Buachalla proposes to convert the existing structure into two semi‑detached single‑storey dwellings, with the outbuildings on the site scheduled for demolition as part of the redevelopment plan.

The application, lodged on 28 May 2026, is classified as a change‑of‑use proposal. It seeks to transform the former school premises into residential accommodation, thereby addressing the need for additional housing within the local community. The developer has indicated that the new dwellings will be constructed on the existing footprint of the school building, preserving the overall massing while providing modern, single‑storey living units. The demolition of the outbuildings is intended to clear the site for the new construction and to comply with current safety and planning regulations.

Monaghan County Council’s planning department has opened the application for public scrutiny. The council will review the proposal in accordance with the county’s planning policies, which include considerations of local housing supply, infrastructure capacity, and environmental impact. The decision on the application is scheduled for 22 July 2026, giving the council and the public a window of approximately two months to submit any comments or objections.

The application is part of a broader trend of repurposing unused public buildings in the region, a strategy that has been discussed in recent council meetings as a means to stimulate local development while preserving heritage sites. Mr O Buachalla’s proposal aligns with the council’s objectives to increase housing stock and to make efficient use of existing structures, thereby reducing the need for new land acquisition.

For further details, see the Monaghan County Council planning portal.

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