Potential for 670 new housing units in Athlone

The town of Athlone could soon receive a major housing boost, with the announcement of €1.83m in funding for a 980m access roadway from Lissywollen to Garrycastle which has the potential to deliver up to 670 new housing units in the town.

The funding is being provided under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) which was announced by the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Simon Coveney.

The lands which are the subject of the funding application from Westmeath County Council are located at Brawny Road, immediately adjacent to the South (Town Centre) side of the N6. The Council's application stated that the provision of access to this area would act as a catalyst for the procurement of 200 housing units in the short term, with the long term potential for 670 housing units. The majority of the lands are already either in the ownership of Westmeath County Council or the Housing Agency.

With Athlone Institute of Technology being located immediately adjacent to the lands in question it is likely that there will be positive benefits to the Third level facility in terms of additional student accommodation, a student zone and connectivity to the Regional Sports Centre.

The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund is part of the Government's Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, and its main objective is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages. €200 million was allocated under the Fund, which was announced on Aug 26 last year. A total of 74 proposals were received from 21 local authorities, with 34 projects being approved, including the 980m stretch of access roadway for Athlone.

Project costs are to be shared on a 75/25% basis between the Exchequer and Westmeath County Council, and it is expected that work will proceed on the access roadway in Athlone next year, with housing to be delivered on the site by 2021.