Galway City Council grants permission for 168-home scheme at Bóthar an Chóiste, Castlegar and Ballinfoil, Galway city

In context

It is one of 32 housing scheme applications Galway City Council has received in the past twelve months, against 1,561 nationally. Of the 3,032 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 79% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 11 July 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Galway City Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

Permission for development which consists of: We, Lock House Developments Limited (the applicant), intend to apply to Galway City Council for permission for a Large-Scale Residential Development. The site extends to 4.626 ha on lands located to the north of Bóthar an Chóiste (also known as Bóthar na Cóiste), in the townlands of Castlegar and Ballinfoil (also known as Ballinfoile), Galway. The application is being made under the provisions of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large Scale Residential Development) Act 2021. The proposed development will consist of the following: 1) Demolition of an existing house (124.6 m²), a ruined outbuilding (42.8 m²), and a ruined dwelling (41.7 m²) 2) Construction of 168 no. residential units comprising: i. 70 no. two storey houses (36 no. two-beds, 26 no. three-beds, 8 no. four-beds), ii. 2 no. apartment blocks comprising 54 no. apartments (27 no. one-beds, 27 no. two-beds), iii. 44 no. duplex units (19 no. one-beds, 25 no. two-beds). 3) Development of a two-storey creche facility (c. 300 sqm), associated outdoor play areas and parking. 4) Provision of all associated surface water and foul drainage services and connections including pumping station with all associated site works and ancillary services. 5) The upgrade of the existing Bóthar an Chóiste road from the proposed development to the junction at L5041 consisting of road improvements, road widening and junction re-alignment. 6) Pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicular links throughout the development and access to Bóthar an Chóiste, and pedestrian and cyclist link to the adjacent Greenway route. 7) Provision of Bat Boxes, a Native Hedgerow Corridor (biodiversity and pollinator friendly) along the northern boundary, and the provision of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) features. 8) Provision of shared communal and private open space, site landscaping and public lighting, resident and visitor parking including electric vehicle charging points, bicycle parking spaces, and all associated site development works. The application is accompanied by a Natura Impact Statement (NIS).