Developer signals plan for over 400 new Athlone homes

A proposal for in excess of 400 new homes on the Leinster side of Athlone has emerged on the housing horizon.

The developers, Castlestar (Athlone) Limited, have initiated a new fast-track planning process, which allows plans for significant housing projects to be submitted directly to An Bord Pleanála for a final verdict.

The application is for a total of 416 residential units, made up of 245 houses and 171 apartments, a creche and associated site works at Cornamagh, Clonbrusk and Coosan, on land believed to be roughly located to the rear of Buccaneers Rugby Club and stretching over towards Garnfailagh.

The developers have now signalled their intentions to enter the pre-application consultation phase, which is mandatory for prospective applicants prior to making an application for Strategic Housing Development (SHD).

It is compulsory for prospective applicants to consult first with the relevant planning authority and then with An Bord Pleanála as part of the nine-week pre-application consultation phase prior to a formal application being lodged with planning board.

At the end of this nine week pre-application period, An Bord Pleanála will will “form and issue an opinion as to whether documents submitted constitute a reasonable basis for an application or whether further consideration or amendment to the documents are required.”

Castlestar (Athlone) Limited, set up last year, has a company address in Blackrock Co Dublin. 

This is the second significant housing project earmarked for the east side of Athlone in recent times, coming hot on the heels of another 547 housing unit development at Lissywollen, Athlone, close to the existing Brawny estate, which is also progressing through the SHD process. 

That plan is part of a major public/private partnership between Westmeath County Council and Alanna Roadbridge Developments Ltd.

This project involves the construction of a controversial link road between the Ballymahon Road and Garrycastle Road roundaboust which must be completed by the end of September next year.

If these residential development plans progress to breaking ground, they will represent the most significant housing developments on the Leinster side of the town since pre-recession times. 

It could entirely rebalance the housing landscape towards the Westmeath side, with the most significant housing located in Monksland and Bealnamulla area of Athlone in Roscommon in recent years.

The development would also make substantial inroads into the growing housing demand in Athlone and its environs.

Mayor of Athlone Cllr Frankie Keena has welcomed this latest SHD application given the huge shortage of housing in the town.

“Between this project and the one planned for Brawney/Lissywollen, it would mean nearly 1,000 units becoming available,” Mayor Keena said.

He expressed the hope that the public will be given ample opportunity to get further information or make any concerns known throughout the process, given that the full application will be decided by An Bord Pleanála rather than the local authority.

“In essence, it's good to see more housing being talked about given the housing shortage across the board in Athlone. The only problem is that if it gets approval, how long will they actually to be built and come on stream? There is an immediate housing problem.”