Harcourt applies for updated planning permission on Waterford's North Quays to maximise space
Planning permission was granted to Harcourt Developments in April 2025.
Harcourt Developments, trading as Hopcast Limited, submitted an updated planning application for Waterford's North Quays, which would drastically reimagine the developer's plans for its planned residential and retail development.
A planning permission application sought on February 27 seeks to add 80 more units to the proposed 350-unit residential/retail development on the North Quays.
The plans see Harcourt seek to maximise space by doubling up on single-bed units and cutting down on family spaces.
Under the original planning application that was initially granted in April 2025, Harcourt planned to produce 106 one-bed units, 32 two-bed three-person units, 175 two-bed four-person units and 37 three-bed five-person units.
The new application outlines 228 one-bed units, seven two-bed three-person units and 195 two-bed four-person units. All three-bed five-person units are dropped from the updated plan.
All units would retain private balconies or terraces.
If granted permission, the total area of the development would increase to 34,239 square units. There will also be minor changes to the external façade of the buildings.
20% of the new permitted units (86) would be used for social and affordable housing under the Affordable Housing Act.
Plans for a hotel, retail units and office remain undeterred.
“The current application proposes modifications to the apartment blocks to respond to the 2025 Apartment Guidelines and, by changing the unit mix and other standards to comply with the updated guidelines, the revised scheme delivers 430 apartments within the building envelope of the six no. apartment blocks previously permitted,” said Ray Ryan, a planning consultant for BMA planning.
“There are minor changes to the external facades but the overall style and architectural treatment are unchanged. On the basis of the foregoing, it is considered that the proposed development is consistent with the Waterford North Quays Planning Scheme 2018, the Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022-2028, relevant Section 28 Guidelines and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”
