Permission refused to convert old nursing home into apartments in Waterford city

Planning permission has been refused to convert an old nursing home into apartments in Waterford city.

The development was planned for the site of the former Maypark Nursing Home in Maypark, just off the Dunmore Road.

There were plans for the residential care home facility to be converted into a total of 29 new residential units.

These would have included 25 apartments, consisting of 19 one-beds, five two-beds and one one-bed.

There were also plans for three two-bedroom houses and one three-bedroom house.

It was planned that the modern extensions to the front and side of the main house would be demolished.

These would have been replaced by a number of new extensions to facilitate the development.

The planning application was submitted by Maypark Lane Ltd on September 2, 2025.

In submissions made to Waterford City and County Council, a number of local residents raised concerns regarding the proposed development.

In particular, concern was expressed over the number of one-bedroom apartments, in contrast with the family-oriented nature of surrounding estates.

As well as that, residents cited the impact the development could have on traffic and anti-social behaviour in the area.

The council subsequently refused permission for the development on August 27.

In making its decision, the local authority highlighted that a Nature Impact Statement had not been submitted.

As a result, the council raised concerns over the “potential for adverse impacts on the integrity of the Lower River Suir Special Area of Conservation”.

A council spokesperson said: “It has not been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the planning authority that the proposed development would not, either individually or in combination with other projects, give rise to potential for significant effects on the conservation objectives of the qualifying interest habitats and species of the Lower River Suir SAC.

“The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

The local authority made no reference to the concerns raised by residents, with the water conservation issues outlined as the sole reason for the refusal.