Plan to convert Meath creche into apartments refused by Meath County Council
Plans to change the use of an “unactivated” creche facility in Navan into residential apartments have been refused by Meath County Council.
The proposal by Andrews Construction Ltd sought to convert the granted but unused ground-floor creche at 61 Wood Stream, Old Road, into two apartments: one two-bedroom unit of 81 sqm and one one-bedroom unit of 61.2 sqm.
The plans included three car parking spaces, six cycle parking spaces, enclosed bin storage, and private open space areas.
The application, lodged in January 2026, was refused this month by the council.
The council cited policy in the Meath County Development Plan 2021–2027, which requires childcare facilities to be provided as part of large residential and commercial developments, particularly in areas where such services are lacking.
“Having regard to the peripheral location of this new large residential neighbourhood development on the eastern side of Navan, where there is a lack of childcare facilities for current and future residents, it is considered that the change of use would not be in the interest of the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” the planning authority said.
The decision also stated that the proposed change would set an “undesirable precedent for further development of this type.”
“The proposed change of use would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”
In 2021, the applicant had successfully secured permission to construct 93 residential units and a creche at the site, with 64 cycle spaces and 200 car parking spaces, seven of which were designated for the creche.
This current refusal follows a related 2024 application by the same developer to amend the phasing of the creche associated with the 93-unit Wood Stream development, which was also refused because the approval conditions required the creche to be provided in the first phase of development.