Information evening on Athlone’s largest ever housing project today
An open evening to brief local residents, school authorities and the wider Athlone public on the 576 residential unit estate development at Brawny will take place today (Wednesday).
Being held in Scoil na gCeithre Máistrí from 6pm to 8pm, the event, according to Mayor of Athlone Moate Municipal District Cllr Frankie Keena, will allow those in attendance to speak with the developers and view all relevant maps detailing the large-scale housing development, the largest in Athlone's history.
The open evening, which is organised by developer Alanna Homes, signals an intensification in the plans to progress the major project. However, no information is available as to the timescale for works.
The contract was signed in December and when complete, the project will accommodate more than 1,500 residents across a 17.6 hectare development site.
The 576 homes, which include 174 social housing units, as well as two creches, are to be situated next to the existing housing in Brawny, to the east of the Athlone Town football stadium and the Scoil na gCeithre Máistrí gaelscoil. The development will be known as Plover's Wood, Kilnafadogue, Athlone.
The first phase of the work is expected to involve the creation of a new link road through the development site, which would connect the Ballymahon Road roundabout with the Garrycastle roundabout.
Welcoming the open evening, Cllr Keena encouraged residents to attend and avail of a briefing from the developers prior to the start of construction.
"I specifically requested an open evening format where residents can drop in anytime during the 6pm-8pm slot. This format will be more informative for those attending as they can have a one-to-one conversation with the developers and view all relevant maps relating to the development.
"I would encourage all those interested to attend this information briefing as it is a great opportunity to get a first hand briefing on this development project. I am sure that the local residents in Brawny and the school authorities will have a lot of queries about this project as it is being constructed," Cllr Keena concluded.
Planning permission for the new housing development has been in place since June 2021, when An Bord Pleanála concluded that the development would have "significant direct positive effects" on Athlone due to the increase in housing stock which it would bring when construction was completed.
The start of construction was severely delayed, however, when the Roadbridge construction group, which was part of the original development consortium for the project, became insolvent in 2022.
Local residents have expressed concern over speed limits on the new road, the design and layout of the road, construction hours and working arrangements.
Alanna Homes was contacted for comment.