Watchdog lists Lissywollen housing plan among delayed schemes
Delays in the long-planned 576-unit Lissywollen housing scheme has been highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the State's financial watchdog.
The Lissywollen scheme is one of just two out of 24 projects agreed under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) for which funding has yet to be sought.
The LIHAF was designed to support housing supply by relieving infrastructure blockages that were believed to be preventing housing delivery on sites with development potential. The objective of LIHAF is to provide public off-site infrastructure in order for housing development to take place.
The Athlone scheme, which was approved under the LIHAF, has been beset by delays and was highlighted in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the accounts of the public services 2023 and the appropriation accounts 2023 last month.
The report listed the Brawny Road project as one of just four of 24 planned LIHAF projects yet to commence.
The report estimated a 4.5 year delay in this project, and says it is one of two which by the end of 2023 had yet to seek funding from the Department.
Westmeath County Council did not comment on the report, despite requests from this publication.
However, this week, the council, in a written response to a question on the matter from Cllr Frankie Keena, said: “Work has been ongoing to finalise the necessary legal agreements between the Developer and Westmeath County Council with regard to the Lissywollen Project. This process is nearing completion.
“The Elected Members will be kept informed regarding the signing of the Development Agreement and the commencement of the project “
The project initially received planning permission in June 2021. Originally, the Alanna-Roadbridge JV consortium was to develop the housing, but this was revised in recent years following the insolvency of the Roadbridge construction group.
The construction of a new link road through the Lissywollen/Brawney area, which would connect the Ballymahon Road with Garrycastle, remains the first step in the Lissywollen housing development.
Recently, An Bord Pleanála confirmed a compulsory purchase order by Westmeath County Council for a 1.04 acre piece of land at Kilnafaddoge townland in Athlone for use as part of the Lissywollen project.
A total of 576 residential dwellings are due to be created alongside the existing Brawney housing estate, between the Scoil na gCeithre Maistri Gaelscoil and Garrycastle, and these would be a mixture of 285 houses and 291 apartments or duplexes.
The development was designed to cater for more 1,500 residents in total.