Plans for new nursing home

Plans to develop a new two-storey, 112-bed nursing home near Cavan Town have been submitted.

Trygve Limited, whose largest shareholder is Emeis Ireland Limited, intends to apply for permission for the proposed development at Lisdarn, a site with previous planning for a 160-bed nursing home in two separate 80-bed builds. Planning was obtained back in 2020 for the site by The Lisdarn Partnership.

Known as ‘Corr’s Field’ at Loreto Road, the site of around 64 acres was sold in 2007 for close to €312,500 per acre, and later floated back on the market in a joint sale by Savills and Crotty Auctioneers, selling at auction in December 2015 for €740,000, or €11,562.50 per acre.

The Lisdarn Partnership, a local business consortium secured the purchase, and is understood to have since sold the property to Emeis, which rebranded from Orpea earlier this year.

In March 2024 Emeis Ireland secured the sale and leaseback of three brand new nursing homes - Portmarnock, Portlaoise and Kilkenny - to Healthcare Activos in a deal worth €56m.

The properties have a total capacity of 332 beds and continue to be operated by Emeis Ireland.

Last year Trygve lodged an application with the council seeking a change of plans for the Lisdarn Partnership permission and a reduction in accommodation down to 112 beds. It also included a link road connecting to nearby Cavan General Hospital.

While sanctioned by Cavan County Council with conditions attached, the decision was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanala in June 2023 and withdrawn by Trygve five days later. Objections centred on the rezoning of the lands, concerns about the entrance to the site and the potential impact of the new nursing home on local services and the surrounding environment.