Westmeath County Council grants permission for 94-home scheme at Lissywollen, Kilnafaddoge & Retreat Athlone, Co. Westmeath

In context

It is one of 36 housing scheme applications Westmeath County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 1,561 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 4 September 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

for a residential development, on lands located in the townlands of Lissywollen, Kilnafaddoge & Retreat, Athlone, County Westmeath. The proposed development consists of 94 no. dwellings, comprised of 63 no. 2 storey, 2 & 3 bed semi-detached and terraced houses, and 31 no. apartments & duplex units accommodated in 2 no. 3 storey buildings, comprised of: (a) 15 no. 2 bed apartments in 1 no. 3 storey building and (b) 16 no. apartments & duplexes in 1 no. 3 storey building (i.e. 7 no. 1 beds, 5 no. 2 beds & 4 no. 3 beds). The proposed development also consists of a 2 storey crèche of c.321sq.m located on the ground & first floors of one of the 3 storey buildings and a 1 no. community hub of c.101sq.m located on the ground floor of the other 3 storey building. Access to the development will be from the Garrycastle roundabout (on the R916 - to the east), with construction of an east-west access road through the development site, extending from the Garrycastle roundabout and all associated road development works also proposed. The proposed development also includes for all associated site development works, public open spaces, hard and soft landscaping, public lighting, car & bicycle parking, bin storage, 1 no. ESB sub-station, all on a site area of c.4.85Ha