First glimpse of proposed Marist housing development

Here is the first glimpse of what an eye-catching new housing scheme in the grounds of the Marist College could look like, should it progress over the planning hurdle.

Tuath Housing Association's proposal would see 55 new apartments provided “to accommodate persons on the social housing waiting list” following the redevelopment of the former boarding school on-site, and construction of a new three-storey block.

While the former school known as Our Lady's Hermitage or Garrow House had a number of uses over the years, the protected structure in the grounds of the current Marist College secondary school, had been vacant for some time before part of it was damaged by a major fire in March 2018.

Following that, the Marist Brothers got planning approval in early 2020 to repair the damage caused to the prominent premises, and this application also referred to a potential proposal by Tuath to convert the entire former boarding school into a housing project.

An Urban Design statement, which accompanies the new plans, argues that the project aims “to prevent further destruction of the existing buildings and seeks to bring life and community to the site once again”.

The Dublin-based housing body, who confirmed in the application that they are "in the process of purchasing the lands from the landowner, The Marist Brothers" submitted the proposal to Westmeath County Council on October 28 last. What's envisaged is the renovation and extension of the premises known as Garrow House and Our Lady's Hermitage, which is a protected structure, to provide 28 apartments, 12 one-bed units and 16 two-bed units. The plan would also cover the construction of a new three-storey apartment block to the rear of the site, incorporating another 27 apartments, all two bed-units to cater for four people in each and community rooms.

The proposed design is sympathetic to the existing protected structure of Garrow House and Our Lady's Hermitage, the Urban Design statement maintains, adding that the frontage and religious features will be retained and kept as original as possible.

Existing buildings that are of “little architectural value or that are not protected” will be demolished and removed to provide space for additional new accommodation, the application details, saying that that the new and existing developments will be “defined and separated with an external courtyard and landscaping” on the 2.5 hectare site.

New accessible stair and lift shafts in an extension to the rear of the former school would retain and protect the original façade to the back of the protected structure, Tuath Housing Association says, stating that the design maximises floor space for apartments, while also providing ample and safe access for less abled and disabled people. There will be variety of individual apartment designs and layouts, with a shared community dayroom on the ground floor looking at the courtyard from the new proposed building.

“It was deemed appropriate to provide this type communal space as it is envisaged that the apartments will be used by elderly residents. As it is not feasible to provide private balcony space for each apartment in the existing protected structure, the community room provides additional space for these residents,” the application explains.

A new two-way entrance has been proposed into the housing project from the Retreat Road to provide safe access for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. This would be put in place by widening the existing one-way system to allow for two-way traffic and would include a footpath for pedestrians and a cycle lane for cyclists.

The new access route would connect to the existing tree-lined road which leads directly to the front of the Garrow House and Our Lady’s Hermitage Building.

School traffic within the site will be re-diverted away from the proposed development and the existing buildings, according to the plans, with a new one-way road provided through the existing open space to the south-west of the established tree line.

This one-way road will connect into the new two-way road leading to the main-entrance out to Retreat and Lower Road. The existing trees would act as a buffer between the new one-way road and the proposed development with 45 parking spaces provided, the application which is due to be decided by Westmeath County Council by December 18 next, points out.