Proposed housing development at Abbey Road in Athlone scaled back

A plan to develop 36 apartments at Abbey Road in Athlone has been reduced in scale to 24 apartments in response to a request from the council.

Abbey Road GSL Ltd, which is part of the Cavan-based Galetech Group, initially lodged plans with Westmeath County Council last September for the partial demolition of two vacant bungalows, at 6 and 7 Abbey Road, and the development of 36 apartments over four blocks.

The planning application attracted more than 20 submissions from local residents who raised concerns about a range of potential impacts including increased traffic congestion, a heightened risk of surface water flooding, and the overlooking of existing properties.

Last October the council requested further information from the developer, suggesting "a new design approach" should be adopted which would take into account "the established low-profile character and streetscape of Abbey Road".

The council said the initial design of the development did not "integrate with adjoining single-storey cottages or the wider streetscape". It also asked that the revised design from Abbey Road GSL would "address visual dominance, overlooking... and potential overshadowing of neighbouring properties."

In response, the developer submitted detailed further information on August 6 in which the overall project is reduced in scale to "24 own-door access residential units" which would continue to be distributed across four blocks.

The developer is now proposing to retain numbers 6 and 7, Abbey Road Cottages, which would be incorporated into the scheme with "modest single-storey extensions" that would see them form blocks A and B of the development.

In the revised plans, blocks, A and B, would be single-storey in height, having previously been proposed as part two-storey buildings. Each would contain one two-bedroom apartment.

Blocks C and D have each been reduced in height from three-storey to two-storey and would contain ten (block C) and twelve (block D) apartments.

In its further information submission to the council, the developer states: "The total number of residential units has been reduced from 36 to 24, representing a one-third reduction.

"This has allowed for increased separation between buildings, improved amenity provision, and a less intensive form of development.

"Overall, the revised proposal achieves a contextually appropriate, lower-density infill development that is visually compatible with the established streetscape of Abbey Road and responsive to residential amenity considerations."

Revised car parking proposals submitted to the council would see 16 parking spaces being created for the 24 housing units. The developer notes that this is below the level proposed for residential developments in the Athlone Town Development Plan, which requires one space per housing unit.

Abbey Road GSL argues that the reduced parking provision is appropriate in this case because of the site's location in "a highly accessible urban area" and its "strong emphasis on walkability and proximity to amenities".

The council has stated that the revised plans constitute "significant further information" and it has requested that the new proposals would now be published by Abbey Road GSL.

The date for a decision from the council on the project will be determined after the publication of the revised plans.