Work on 576-home Lissywollen development will start this year, says council

Adrian Cusack

Published: Thu 17 Jun 2021, 10:48 AM

Last updated: Thu 17 Jun 2021, 10:54 AM

Westmeath County Council said construction work on the 576-home Lissywollen development in Athlone is expected to start within the next six months.

The local authority partnered with Alanna Roadbridge Developments on the plans, and issued a statement this morning (Thursday) welcoming the awarding of planning permission for the massive residential project.

"Westmeath County Council is delighted that this significant housing project is moving forward," said the statement.

"The obtaining of planning permission is a critical step in the delivery of 576 homes, including 176 social homes, in Athlone and in the county and facilitates a construction commencement in 2021."

The first phase of work will see the construction of a link road through the development site. The road, described in the plans as 'Lissywollen Avenue', will be a new route connecting the Ballymahon Road roundabout with the Garrycastle roundabout.

Another design preview of the Lissywollen development.

The council said An Bord Pleanala's decision to award planning permission for the Strategic Housing Development proposal on Tuesday was hugely significant for the town and county.

"This represents an important milestone in the delivery of a housing project that Westmeath County Council, through its Housing Capital Team, has been working to deliver for some time," it said.

"The project has been developed with the support of the elected members of the Council and working with our stakeholders, including the Housing Agency, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the residents of Brawny.

"Following a procurement process, the Council has partnered with Alanna-Roadbridge Joint Venture to progress the project."

What the development is expected to look like from the Old Rail Trail Greenway.

The land on which the homes are to be built was council-owned, and it described the site as "ideally and centrally located in terms of easy access to the broad range of services and facilities that Athlone has to offer."

It stated that the new homes would vary in size and scale from two-storey housing to "a five-storey landmark building" at the North-West area of the site. They would be organised in a network of streets with "nine new public green spaces."

"The development is divided into five distinct character areas, linked by an extensive green network of paths and cycle tracks, providing enhanced connectivity with the Old Rail Trail Greenway," said the council.