Our Lady's Bower Convent, Aghacocara, Lower Road
Conversion of a protected convent and school into apartments, plus two new apartment blocks, creating 91 residential units.
207056 · Westmeath County Council · Lodged 8 April 2020
- Reference
- 207056
- Authority
- Westmeath County Council
- Register status
- Invalid or incomplete
- Type
- PERMISSION
- Received
- 8 April 2020
Summary
AI-generatedThe development involves the change of use of the historic 1889 convent building and its 1960s extension into a library and apartments. It also includes the construction of two new apartment blocks, one on the north-west side and another on the former tennis courts, providing a total of 91 apartments alongside parking and ancillary works.
- Residential units
- 91
Generated from the description above by an AI model and may contain mistakes. The council’s description is the authoritative record.
Official record
Development description
A) change of use of the old 1889 convent building (our lady's bower) and later 1960s extension from convent and boarding school to library and residential apartments; 11 three-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom, 15 one-bedroom, six studios, 64 car park spaces (three for disabled). An 1889 convent building (our lady's bower) is a protected structure (ref 224) and entrance gateway - our lady's bower is a protected structure (ref 223). B) material changes to the elevations of the existing 1960s building. C) new residential apartment block extension to the north-west side of the existing 1960s building; consists of: 3 three-bedroom, 3 two-bedroom, one 1-bedroom, one studio, seven carpark spaces (one for disabled), waste recycle bin storage and bicycle storage at the ground level. D) new residential apartment block on the old tennis courtyards at the south-east part of the site, consisting of 20 two-bedroom and 4 one-bedroom, 32 carpark spaces (two for disabled). E) all ancillary site works at the curtilage of our lady's bower convent, aghacocara, lower road, athlone
Land-use zoning
What this land is zoned for
“Protect, provide and improve community, civic and educational facilities and to preserve the open character of institutional lands and the setting of heritage buildings contained within such lands.”
Objective set by the ATLAP 2014-2020 (2014–2025). The planning authority decides each application on its own merits — this is the zoning context, not a compliance assessment.
Read the zoning objectives in the development planBuilt & sold
What happened next
Beyond the decision: whether this development was built, and what property here has sold for.
Recent sales nearby
within 500 m| Address | Date | Price | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Ankers Court, Dublin Rd, Athlone | Jan 2026 | €180,000 | 217 m |
| 23 Ankers Court, Dublin Rd, Athlone | Jan 2026 | €218,000 | 219 m |
| 7 Carnagh House, Ardri, Dublin Rd Athlone | Jul 2026 | €242,000 | 247 m |
| 16 Carnagh House, Ardri, Dublin Rd | Jan 2026 | €242,000 | 247 m |
| Apartment 14 Rinardo House, Ard R�, Athlone | Nov 2025 | €244,000 | 249 m |
| 10 Portanure House, Ard Ri, Old Dublin Rd | May 2025 | €232,000 | 256 m |
| 8 Portanure House, Ardri, Athlone | Jul 2025 | €230,000 | 256 m |
| 12 Portanure House Adri, Brideswell St, Athlone | Jun 2025 | €261,000 | 256 m |
Nearby properties, not this site — a guide to local values.
Sources: Building Control Management System (commencement notices) and the Residential Property Price Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Records are matched to this application by location and may not be exhaustive; always confirm against the official source before relying on them.
Key dates
Timeline
- Application received8 April 2020
In the area
Applications near this site
Other planning applications within about 500 m — what else is being proposed or built nearby.
- GrantedAt this site
EXTENSION of DURATION for a) Change of use of the old 1889 Convent Building (Our Lady's Bower) and later…
Our Lady's Bower , Aghacocara & Loughanaskin , Lower Road
2539WestmeathLodged 26 Sept 2025Apartments
- GrantedAt this site
Permission for a) Change of use of the old 1889 Convent Building (Our Lady's Bower) and later 1960s extension…
Our Lady's Bower , Aghacocara & Loughanaskin , Lower Road
207079WestmeathLodged 29 May 2020Apartments
- Granted130 m away
Development at this site: Our Lady’s Bower Convent, a Protected Structure RPS No. 224 & 223, in the townlands…
Our Lady's Bower , Aghacocara and Loughanaskin Lower Road Athlone , County Westmeath
2660236WestmeathLodged 9 May 2026Housing estate
- Awaiting decision130 m away
Permission for amendment from previously granted application under 18/7159. Retention permission relating to…
Lower Road (boundary Lower Road & Bower Lane) , Athlone , Co Westmeath
2245WestmeathLodged 9 Feb 2022Retention
- Awaiting decision130 m away
Amendments to the previous application granted under 18/7159. Retention permission relating to Block 06…
Bower Hill , Lower Road , Athlone
2212WestmeathLodged 19 Jan 2022Retention
- Granted130 m away
Planning permission for a development of 55no. residential units with public open space and associated site…
Lower Rd , (Bounding Lower Rd & Bower Lane) , Athlone
187159WestmeathLodged 24 Aug 2018Housing estate
- Refused130 m away
The development of 69 no residential units with public open space and associated site works including…
Lower Road (bounding Lower Road & Bower Lane , Athlone , Co Westmeath
177079WestmeathLodged 21 Apr 2017Housing estate
- Awaiting decision130 m away
The development of 51no. residential units with public open space & associated site works including…
Lower Road (bounding lower road&bower lane , Athlone , Co Westmeath
187133WestmeathLodged 18 Jul 2018Housing estate
Related developments
Similar applications
Ranked by what these developments actually propose, not by matching words — so you can see how comparable applications were decided.
- GrantedApartments
Permission for a) Change of use of the old 1889 Convent Building (Our Lady's Bower) and later 1960s extension…
Our Lady's Bower , Aghacocara & Loughanaskin , Lower Road
207079WestmeathLodged 29 May 2020
- GrantedHousing estate
Development at this site: Our Lady’s Bower Convent, a Protected Structure RPS No. 224 & 223, in the townlands…
Our Lady's Bower , Aghacocara and Loughanaskin Lower Road Athlone , County Westmeath
2660236WestmeathLodged 9 May 2026
- GrantedApartments
EXTENSION of DURATION for a) Change of use of the old 1889 Convent Building (Our Lady's Bower) and later…
Our Lady's Bower , Aghacocara & Loughanaskin , Lower Road
2539WestmeathLodged 26 Sept 2025
- GrantedChange of use
A). alterations to existing disused convent buildings and for change of use to tourist accommodation to…
The Old Convent , Ballingarry Lower , Thurles Co. Tipperary
2260590TipperaryLodged 2 Nov 2022
- Awaiting decisionRetention
This development consists of retention of alterations to works approved under planning ref. 20/871 which…
St Joseph’s House , Manor Hill , Waterford ( A Protected Structure/s RPS Nos 680 and 809)
2660305WaterfordLodged 8 May 2026
- GrantedChange of use
Development consisting of change of use of the existing buildings & grounds from religious (a convent &…
St. Joseph's House , Manor Hill , Waterford
20871WaterfordLodged 24 Nov 2020
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