Westmeath County Council grants permission for 70-home scheme at Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath

In context

It is one of 36 housing scheme applications Westmeath County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 1,638 nationally. Of the 3,067 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 78% 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 31 October 2023. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues. The applicant sought a 5-year permission, which sets how long they have to start the development.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Westmeath County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

5-year permission for development at a site of total c.10.87 ha on lands located at Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. The site is generally bounded to the west by greenfield lands and Cornamagh Cemetery, to the north by greenfield lands, to the south by greenfield lands and the Ballymahon Road (N55) and to the east by the existing Drumaconn housing estate. The development will comprise of a residential development and public open space comprising the following: • Amendments to permitted application WMCC Reg Ref. 14/7103 ABP Ref. PL25.244826 for the removal of 38 no. permitted units (not constructed) to be replaced by: Construction of 70 no. residential units comprising: 4 no. 2 bed terraced houses (c.78 sq.m each), 60 no. 3 bed semidetached (c. 96-116 sq.m each) and 6 no. 4 bed semidetached houses (c. 147 sq.m each) with associated private gardens. • The creche facility, public open spaces, landscaping, roads layouts, car parking, boundary treatment works, public lighting and all associated site works associated with the 87 no. remaining units retained as permitted under WMCC Reg Ref. 14/7103 ABP Ref. PL25.244826 will remain unchanged. • All pedestrian and vehicular access roads and footpaths including a section of the planned east/west distributor road connecting to a sections of the distributor road permitted under WMCC Reg. Refs 14/7103 ABP Ref. PL25.244826 and 22/253 to the east of the site. • All associated site development works, services provision, drainage works, public open space (c.1.03ha), landscaping, boundary treatment works, public lighting, associated esb substation cabinets, bin stores, car and bicycle parking provision. • This development will form part of a larger/future phase of the development. • This planning application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Natura Impact Statement