Council moves to revamp three premises in Connaught Street

The first step in the long awaited regeneration of Connaught Street is moving forward, with the news three idle premises in Connaught Street look set to be revamped by the council into much needed social housing units and a retail outlet, according to newly published plans.

Westmeath County Council has kickstarted the planning process for the developments at 36, 53 and 59 Connaught Street, with Part 8 planning notices appearing in recent days to repurpose the buildings into six housing units and a retail unit. This is the planning process for local authority projects to progress.

A two-bed apartment duplex unit, a one bed apartment, and a ground floor retail unit are earmarked for 59 Connaught Street, while two further one-bed units and a two-bed duplex unit is proposed for Auburn House, 36 Connaught Street, a protected structure which dates from 1810.

It emerged last month that council has engaged estate agents Avison Young to sell several other council-owned premises in Connaught Street, the adjoining buildings, 39a-45 despite some local opposition.

A 2.5 storey extension will be demolished as part of the project signalled for 36 Connaught Street, with a new four-storey extension taking its place. The published planning notice revealed that the basement and part of the ground floor will be incorporated into a duplex two-bed unit, with one-bed apartment units on the first and second floor. The building is located in between O'Meara's betting office and Dunning's Butchers.

The project will also include the retention and repairs to the roof, windows, walls and floor to the protected structure, and the retention of rear boundary walls.

According to the National inventory of Architectural Heritage, the terraced two-bay three-storey house was built circa 1810, and was previously in use as offices.

“The simple block-and-start doorcase and the cast-iron window guard to the ground floor window are interesting features. This building is the best surviving example from an original terrace of four buildings, the others having been extensively renovated with the loss of original character,” it said in its appraisal of the historic premises along Connaught Street.

In the case of the development at 59 Connaught Street, the project will involve the construction of a two-storey extension to the rear and a single storey extension to the side. The works will also include where required, “repair and making good works to the roof windows and walls of the existing street facing facade with the rear boundary walls to be retained and made good”. 53 and 59 Connaught Street are both in the Athlone Town Architectural Conservation Area.

One two-bed dwelling is earmarked for 53 Connaught Street, and the works to the existing two-storey townhouse cover the construction of a new two-storey rear extension, addition of an attic room and repairs to roof, windows etc, where required. Again, a rear boundary wall will be retained and made good in line with other two projects.

Plans in relation to the three developments are available for inspection at http://consult.westmeathcoco.ie/en or can be inspected in Athlone Moate Municipal District offices in Athlone Civic Centre until November 3 next. Anyone wishing to make a submission or an observation on either development can do on council's consultation portal http://consult.westmeathcoco.ie/en or in writing to Westmeath County Council, Mount Street Mullingar by 4pm on Friday, November 17.

Submissions or observations received will form part of a statutory report to be presented to a meeting of Westmeath County Council and will form part of a public document.

The information in submissions may be made available for public inspection, to be available on the council's website and at the council's public counter.