Work on Athlone's largest housing estate to start "in weeks", meeting hears

Construction work on Athlone's largest ever housing development is expected to begin in a matter of weeks, it emerged at a public meeting last Thursday (July 17).

Work on the 576-unit Plovers Wood development in the Lissywollen area is to start imminently, Alanna Homes development director Thomas Freeman confirmed at the meeting, which was held in Scoil na gCeithre Máistrí gaelscoil.

The overall project is expected to take over five years to complete, with work beginning at the Garrycastle end of the site.

The development will be built over a number of phases, with the first phase of the project containing 103 housing units.

The first phase of the project will also involve the construction of a controversial 30km per hour link road, described in planning documents as Lissywollen Avenue, which would traverse the housing development and create a new route from the Ballymahon Road to Garrycastle.

This road is being delivered under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund, with funding announced previously. Mr Freeman explained that while work on the houses can take place simultaneously to the construction of the road, the road must be complete prior to the occupation of any of the houses.

Brawny resident Keith Dowling, who raised a number of issues and presented a document outlining 19 points he was seeking clarity on to the developer, Cllr Frankie Keena, and members of the media, queried whether traffic calming measures would be in place prior to the opening of the road.

"The road must be built before the first houses are occupied, with the traffic calming measures in place before opening. The top coat won't be on it as there will still be construction going on, but everything else will be done," Thomas Freeman explained.

Mr Freeman said the company was committed to the development, saying: "We're investing in this project, we've invested a lot of money in this project already through the planning process and working with Westmeath County Council.

"And it's on the basis of two things - one is that we believe in the site and two is Westmeath County Council have been very good to work with."

He added the reason for the project is to deliver housing, pointing out that there is a national housing crisis.

Speaking about how long it will take to complete, he said: "I would have said it's more than a five-year scheme. Each phase will be sales-driven."

He added that he believes there is demand for the development. Some of those who called to Thursday's meeting included people expressing an interest in purchasing houses.

Alanna Homes has a dedicated website - www.ploverswood.ie - where people can register their interest. Mr Freeman said over 100 people have registered their interest to date, despite the fact the company has not yet carried out any marketing of the development.

The second phase of the project will include housing, a creche, and a community hub, while subsequent phases will include houses, apartments and a second creche facility.

Mr Freeman added: "We've found Westmeath County Council very good to work with, the housing department and planning department - they're doing their very best, the same as we are, to get the scheme up and running so that housing is delivered, and it's much needed of course."

With planning permission initially granted in 2021 and due to expire next year, Mr Freeman explained that the company should have substantial works carried out which would allow it to apply for an extension of duration of planning permission.

"If you don't get an extension of duration, because that's not up to us, you have to finish up the open spaces and things that are required for the units that you have finished," he explained.

In a further bid to counteract any difficulties regarding the expiration of planning permission, the developer has already lodged another planning application for phase two of the scheme, which is identical to the one in place, so that if it doesn't get a planning extension it will already have a planning application in place.

However, Mr Freeman added: "The new rules should mean that once we start we should meet the criteria for extension."

In relation to issues raised by residents on the evening, he said: "We're going to work with Cllr Frankie Keena and the council officials to clarify and address, as best we can, any of the concerns raised."

He added that there will be a permanent presence on site once construction begins and someone who will be able to answer any questions people have.

Keith Dowling and his wife Michelle, who live in Brawny, attended the meeting and raised a number of issues. He explained these were issues that they had raised previously through the planning process but said they have not yet been answered.

Mr Dowling said that they were not against the houses, but they had issues with the road going through the development.

"We will accept the road, but on the grounds that our concerns will be mitigated and they never have been mitigated," he said.

Other issues they raised with Mr Freeman related to the future of a hammer head junction which is used as a turning circle for fire service vehicles; parking; boundary treatment at a number of areas, particularly in relation to where car lights could be shining into houses and loss of privacy from balconies; and the removal of a proposed link road to the existing Brawny estate.

"We just want a boundary that separates us from it and to be left alone," said Mr Dowling. "We're not against the houses."

In relation to issues raised by residents, Cllr Frankie Keena who was in attendance at the meeting and has been working with both the developer and residents throughout the process, said it came down to a few pertinent issues.

"Regarding those road issues, we will work with the residents, it has to come from everybody there. They all need to be in agreement that they'll be happy with one egress from their area. Then we will need to work with them, with Thomas Freeman and the council engineers on it," said Cllr Keena.

He said there is a bit of work to be done on it as discussions would have to be held with the local authority and residents would need to be fully in agreement, but he pointed out that this is the tail end of the development, with work starting at the Garrycastle end and moving from east to west.

He added that he will be looking for another meeting and for leaflets to be dropped to homes in advance of this, as some people said there was short notice regarding last Thursday's meeting.

Cllr Keena added that delivering a project of this size means there will be some disruption, but said this needs to be minimised for residents.

"From day one I've seen the importance of this housing scheme and I look forward to when the sod is turned and work starts.

“There is a long list of people looking for houses, looking to buy houses and for council houses," added Cllr Keena. "There will be a huge interest in this."

Cllr Keena added that the Garrycastle roundabout is already busy and once work begins on the development there will be a lot of construction traffic using this road and he will be seeking safety measures at the roundabout, particularly for pedestrians.

"I think it is incumbent on the local authority to address that," he said.