Apartment project approved for Dublin Road

An apartment project in Athlone, comprising 26 units in all, has got the backing of Westmeath County Council.

Applicant John Killian was granted planning approval recently for the scheme earmarked for a 0.241 hectare site at Brideswell Street, just off the Dublin Road.

The project would see the demolition of two single-storey homes and a garage to make way for the construction of a four-storey block of 20 apartments, made up of 16 two bed units and four one bed units.

The plans, given the green light in early September, also include another stand-alone three-storey block providing six one bed apartments.

The site is bounded by Brideswell Street to the south, Michael Heavin Furniture to the east and by Eastern Electric to the West.

A new semi-basement car park would also provide 19 car parking spaces, according to the proposal, while bicycle parking, amenity space, communal open space and bin storage would also be provided for in the project.

First lodged back in December of 2021, the apartment development was subsequently paused in February this year after the council requested further information and stipulated that an appropriate assessment of the project be carried out, as required by the Habitats Directive, and a construction and environmental plan be submitted.

That was supplied by the applicant by August 11 enabling a verdict on September 6, which required the applicant to comply with ten planning conditions, including the payment of a €150,000 bond and €51,000 in development contributions.