Minister visits site of Athlone's largest housing development

By Kevin O'Neill

On Thursday last, Minister for Housing James Browne paid a visit to the site where Athlone's largest-ever housing project is being developed at Kilnafaddoge, Lissywollen.

Minister Browne was in the presence of several local dignitaries - including Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, Deputy Mayor of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, and Westmeath Ministers of State Kevin 'Boxer' Moran and Robert Troy - as he acknowledged the progress being made at the 'Plovers Wood' site.

Construction work on the project began last year, and 'Plovers Wood' is expected to consist of 576 new homes in total, with these being built in five stages.

Last week's event was described by the Department for Housing, Local Government & Heritage as the development's official launch, while the first block of housing units, including show houses, is nearing completion.

Developers Alanna Homes are aiming to have show houses open for viewing before the end of June.

Plovers Wood is expected to deliver a mix of social, affordable, and private homes, along with two creches.

A link road which will traverse the housing development, and create a new route from the Ballymahon Road to Garrycastle, is said to be approximately 50% complete. The new road will have to be completed and opened before any of the new housing units are occupied.

During his visited to the site on Thursday morning, Minister Browne said it was important to acknowledge all parties involved in the development, which he described as "significantly important" to the Athlone area.

He also complimented Westmeath County Council for its "ongoing contribution" to housing supply in the county. Furthermore, Minister Browne paid tribute to developer Alanna Homes, praising its delivery of "the highest-quality homes".

"This development will strenghten the sense of community in the area," said the Housing Minister. "As it continues to progress through its stages, it will help build that spirit over the coming years. It is a significantly important development for Athlone as we continue to deal with the issue of housing, and also for people who might want to come to live in Athlone."

Phase one of the development will include 94 homes. Planning approval for the entire 576-unit project was granted five years ago, in 2021, and is due to expire this summer. As a result, the developer is now seeking new planning approval for the various phases of the development as it progresses.

A planning application for phase two, comprising 75 homes, was submitted in March.

Despite the initial award of planning approval for the project in 2021, it ran into lengthy delays due to the insolvency of the Roadbridge construction group, which was initially due to partner with Alanna Homes on the development.

A contract for the construction of the development was eventually signed in December 2024. Building work started on-site last autumn and the entire project is expected to take up to five years to fully complete.

Speaking at last week's event, Cllr Aengus O’Rourke described the occasion as "a day of optimism" for Athlone.

"If we want thriving communities, strong local economies and sustainable growth, we must provides homes for people," he said.

"Athlone is uniquely placed to lead that growth and we are making huge progress. Athlone is recognised by the government as a strategic growth centre for the Midlands and our location gives us a natural advantage.

"Developments like (Plovers Wood) are essential to match our ambition for growth with delivery. Today is a day for optimism and I am proud to stand here, just 500 yards from where I grew up in Arcadia, to say that Athlone is growing, delivering and thriving," he said.

He went on to say that projects of this scale were "never straightforward" and that the Kilnafaddoge development had "its share" of challenges.

"There were times when many of us wondered would this project ever get the fair wind it needed. One of the original project principals left the partnership just as the project was preparing to get underway, and then Covid arrived and brought enormous uncertainty and disruption to every sector, especially construction.

"Just as we were beginning to see the light at the end of that tunnel, the war in Ukraine created further pressures on supply chains, materials and costs. That is why today is particularly important," said Cllr O'Rourke.

He acknowledged the "determination and resilience" of Alanna Homes for "staying the course when others might have stepped away," and also thanked the residents of the nearby Brawny residential estate for its engagement in relation to the development.

"There were many meetings and a number of concessions and design changes made to accomodate certain concerns and observations that (Brawny residents) had," he said.

"Housing affects every family, generation and community and this is a significant day for Athlone, the entire county, and for the wider Midlands region. This is the single biggest housing development ever undertaken in Westmeath," Cllr O'Rourke said.

Jackie Finney, Director of Service for Westmeath County Council, described the development as "a landmark project to deliver hundreds of homes in a fantastic location".

She also praised all parties involved in the development to date and said that the council looks forward to continuing to work with and support Alanna Houses throughout the delivery of the project.