Plans for social housing scheme on Marist site move a step closer

Plans for the construction of an ambitious social housing scheme for older persons on the grounds of the Marist College have moved a step closer this week with the submission of further information to Westmeath County Council from the developers.

The project was placed on hold earlier this year after council planners expressed concerns about a number of aspects of the plans including the proposed new road layout and entrance which would serve the development and the nearby Marist secondary school.

In all, the council sought further information from the developers, Tuath Housing Association, under nine different headings before a final decision can be made on the project.

The planning application by the Dublin-based Tuath Housing would see the renovation and extension of the premises known as Garrow House and Our Lady's Hermitage, which is a protected structure, to provide 28 apartments, 12 one-bed units and 16 two-bed units, and also the construction of a new three-storey apartment block to the rear of the site, incorporating another 27 apartments, all two bed-units.

The provision of community rooms is also provided for in the plans, as well as new footpaths and roads within the site including amendments to the existing internal road and front entrance access, hard and soft landscaping, boundary walls and fencing, site works, cycle and bin stores, and car parking

In a social infrastructure statement provided to the council, as part of the further information request, Tuath Housing confirmed that the project is to be funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage through the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) under the Older Persons Category of Housing Need.

It also stated that the plan is designed to provide accommodation “for older persons with a minimum age of over 55” and is “not intended for families”.

Council planners sought clarification and detailed drawings in relation to changes to the entrance gateway which is a protected structure, and in the response the developers said no work will be carried out to the pillars, walls or railings at the existing entrance “as it is recognised that these are protected.”

Tuath added that the works at the entrance relate to the finish of the road and realignment of the kerbs internally. “Therefore, there is no loss of historic material in association with the entrance.”

In relation to the road layout of the proposed development, concerns were expressed by council planners that the new road appeared to be “ad-hoc” and would adversely impact on the character and setting of Garrow House and the Marist Hermitage structure.

In response, the developers pointed out that it was “important from a safety perspective” that the patterns of movement of the existing school users “remains unaffected” by the proposed works unless it could be demonstrated there would be an improvement in road safety. They added that the proposed design “provides a safe access and egress” to the site adjacent to the public road – both for the school and the residential development by means of “a simple left turn down a one-way system just inside the boundary of the site.”

They also said the proposal of a two way road formed by the addition of an outward bound lane adjacent to the existing inward bound lane along the southwest boundary would cause “a potential hazard” for the left turners onto the road system as they engage with oncoming traffic, leading to traffic tailbacks at peak times. “Even if we were to give priority to the traffic leaving the school at this junction, traffic wishing to access the proposed housing development would have to cross the outward bound lane,” the further information stated.

Among the other issues addressed in the further information supplied to the council were the finish on the exterior of the apartment block and the extension; landscape and boundary treatment; ecological impact; fire safety and protection of trees on the site.

The revised plans for the Marist site can be inspected at the offices of Westmeath County Council, Aras an Chontae, Mullingar, within the next five weeks.

The possible change of use at Our Lady's Hermitage building was first mooted as far back as December 2019.

The building, a protected structure which stands on the grounds of the Marist College in Athlone, was damaged by a major fire which broke out on the premises in March 2018.