BREAKING: Planners give green light for huge 576-home Athlone development
The largest residential development ever proposed in Athlone has been given the green light.
The 576-home strategic housing development in Lissywollen was this week granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanala.
In making its decision, the planning authority said the development would have "significant direct positive effects" on the "population and material assets" of Athlone due to the "increase in housing stock that it would make available in the urban area".
The board also concluded that the number and density of housing units would be acceptable given the "accessible suburban location" of the development site.
The Lissywollen development is designed for more than 1,500 residents and would be situated on a 17.6-hectare site alongside the existing Brawney housing estate, between the Scoil na gCeithre Maistri Gaelscoil and Garrycastle.
Alanna Roadbridge Developments Ltd is the developer behind the project, which is due to see 285 houses, along with 291 apartments and duplexes, built in several phases over a number of years.
The development includes a controversial new road, Lissywollen Avenue, which will be built during the first phase of construction and would link the Ballymahon Road roundabout with the Garrycastle roundabout.
A total of 31 conditions were attached to the award of planning permission, including amendments to the design of the windows in nine of the housing units in order to prevent direct overlooking into other units.
The developer was also instructed to make provision for a future development of a footbridge over the N6 Dublin-Galway dual carriageway.
A total of 174 of the Lissywollen units are to be allocated to the council as social housing, while the remaining 402 would be for the private market.
The developer lodged the strategic housing development application with An Bord Pleanala in February.
During the planning process, concerns were raised about the scale of the proposed development, including apartments overlooking the Gaelscoil, the disruption that would be caused during construction, the density of the new housing, and the potential for anti-social behaviour.
The prospect of the new Lissywollen Avenue road becoming a 'rat run' for motorists between the Ballymahon Road and Garrycastle was also raised.
However, a report by An Bord Pleanala inspector Stephen Rhys Thomas concluded that the project "would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area" and would be acceptable in terms of "urban design, height and quantum of development".
In its decision, which was signed off yesterday (Tuesday), the planning board agreed with that assessment.
Construction work at the site has been allowed between the hours of 7am and 7pm, Mondays to Saturdays inclusive.
Among the other conditions attached to the grant of planning permission were that 10% of all car parking spaces should be provided with electric vehicle charging stations, and that proposals for an "estate and street name" should be submitted to the planning authority before the development begins.