Plans for multi-million student campus lodged
Plans for what the developer is describing as a “major multi-million euro student campus” to service Ireland's newest university have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála, it has been confirmed.
The ambitious proposal from Avenir Homes Limited for a student complex is part of a large scale Strategic Housing Development (SHD), which also encompasses over 122 residential units, made up of 60 houses and 62 apartments, and a creche at Cartrontroy, Kilnafaddoge, Ardnaglug and Lissywollen townlands.
The development site named 'The Green Quarter' is close to the ESB Networks facility in Garrycastle, and fronts onto the Old Rail Trail. It is being developed by former Athlone IT student and Longford developer Mark Cunningham.
It is envisaged the proposal “will positively contribute to addressing the well publicised shortage of student accommodation in Athlone which is having a pronounced negative impact on the local housing market,” Mr Cunningham claimed this week.
A chartered engineer, he is also contended that the development would be in keeping with local policy guidelines to construct a "student quarter" while promoting Athlone as an "international student destination” less than three months after it become home to the country's third Technological University following a merger with Limerick Institute of Technology to form the Technological University of the Shannon or TUS.
The former Athlone student spoke of his own personal delight at being able to devise what he is promising as “one of the largest and transformational projects” for his former alma mater. It would see 46 student apartments arranged in three separate blocks, ranging in height from four storeys to seven storeys, providing a total of 283 bed spaces. It will also connect to the cycleway, TUS and Athlone Town centre with pedestrian and and cycle linkages.
“As a past student of Athlone Regional Technical College (RTC), I'm delighted to have the opportunity to apply for permission to construct a purpose built student campus which both reflects its new Technological University status and also Athlone's place as a regional growth centre in The National Planning Framework,”
The application, once officially lodged, can be inspected, or purchased, during public opening hours at the offices of An Bord Pleanála in Dublin or in local council offices. Details may also be inspected online at www.thegreenquartershd.ie when the website goes live in the coming days.
A decision on the development is due to be made by An Bord Pleanála within 16-weeks, the statutory timeframe laid down in law for SHDs, the fast-track process for large-scale housing projects which bypasses the local authority for a decision from An Bord Pleanála.