Westmeath County Council grants permission for 332-home scheme at Ballykeeran and Cornmaddy, 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 22 November 2023. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues. The applicant sought a 10-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.

development consisting of a 10 year permission for the provision of a total of 332no. residential units along with provision of a crèche. Particulars of the development comprise as follows: (a) Site excavation works to facilitate the proposed development to include excavation and general site preparation works. (b) The provision of a total of 172no. 2storey residential dwellings which will consisting of 152no. 3 bed units and 20no. 4 bed units. (c) The provision of a total of 160no. apartments/duplex units consisting of 36no.1 bed units, 99no.2bed units and 25no. 3bed units. The apartment blocks range in height from 2 storey to 4 storey and the duplex blocks range from 2 storey to 3 storey in height. (d) Provision of a 2 storey creche. (e) Provision of associated car parking at surface level via a combination of in-curtilage parking for dwellings and via on-street parking for the creche, duplexes and apartment units. (f) Provision of electric vehicle charge points with associated site infrastructure ducting to provide charge points for residents throughout the site. (g) Provision of associated bicycle storage facilities at surface level throughout the site and bin storage facilities. (h) The provision of a new link road via adjacent lands to the west to provide for vehicular, pedestrian and cyclist access. (i)The provision of internal culverts and associated bridges along with a realignment of a section of an existing drainage channel within the site to facilitate internal access roads along with associated crossing points across the drainage channel (to facilitate pedestrian, cyclist and vehicular crossing points). (j)The creation of a pedestrian footpath alongside the local road which will connect to the existing footpath aligning the N55 National road; (k)Provision of associated open space areas, residential communal open space areas to include formal play areas along with all hard and soft landscape works for private gardens and amenity spaces along with public lighting, planting and boundary treatments to include boundary walls, railings & fencing; (l)Provision of 2no. ESB substations. (m)Internal site works and attenuation systems. (n)All ancillary site development/construction works to facilitate foul, water and service networks for connection to the existing foul, water and ESB networks. An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) have been prepared in respect of the proposed development