Planning application received: change of Use from existing 1439sqm secondary school facility to commercial offices and a childcare

A planning application has been lodged with Westmeath County Council for a former Mercy Secondary school on Dublin Road in Killbeggan, Co. Westmeath. The applicant, MSR Childcare Services, seeks to change the use of the 1,439‑square‑metre site from a secondary school to a mixed development comprising commercial offices and a childcare facility. The application entered the council’s pre‑validation stage on 2 June 2026, and a decision is expected by 27 July 2026.

The former school building, which has served the local community for many years, would be repurposed to accommodate office space and a childcare service that would provide early‑years education and care for children in the area. The proposal does not include any new construction; instead it involves a change of use of the existing structure. The council will assess the application against planning policy and local development plans before granting permission.

The application is part of a broader range of planning decisions being considered in Co. Westmeath. Recent approvals include a new part‑storey dwelling in Aghamore, a solar‑panel installation in Streamstown, a house‑design change in Ballynagarbry, a garage modification in Delvin, and a retention permission for a public house in Moate. These decisions illustrate the council’s ongoing work to manage development across the county.

The MSR Childcare Services application will be reviewed in the context of the county’s planning framework, and the council will publish its decision once the pre‑validation process is complete. Stakeholders and residents are encouraged to consult the council’s planning portal for updates and to view the full application details.

See the Westmeath County Council planning portal for the full application.

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