The Strategic Housing Development Planning Application for 576 dwellings at Lissywollen and Kilnafaddoge, Athlone, County Westmeath was lodged today (Wednesday 24 Feb 2021) under the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016.
This represents an important milestone in the delivery of a housing project that Westmeath County Council, through its Housing Capital Team, has been working to deliver for some time. The project has been developed with the support of the elected members of the Council and by working with our stakeholders, including the Housing Agency, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the residents of Brawny. Following a procurement process, the Council has partnered with Alanna-Roadbridge Joint Venture to progress the project and they have made today’s Planning Application to An Bord Pleanála. Details of the application are available on a dedicated website https://lissywollenshd.ie/.
The proposed development, if approved, will deliver over 170 social homes and over 400 private homes in Athlone at a location that is ideally and centrally located in terms of easy access to the broad range of services and facilities that Athlone has to offer. These include the Old Rail Trail Greenway, the Regional Sports Centre and Fitness Park, primary, secondary and third level education facilities, sporting facilities, and transport facilities to name but a few.
The proposed development is on 17.6 hectares of land in the ownership of Westmeath County Council, to the west of Scoil na gCeithre Máistrí and to the east and west of the existing housing at Brawny Road. It provides for a contemporary scheme of 576 residential units consisting of 285 houses and 291 apartments and duplexes.
The proposed new homes vary in size and scale from two-storey housing to a five-storey landmark building at the North-West area of the site and are organised in a network of streets with nine new public greenspaces.
The development is divided into five distinct character areas, linked by an extensive green network of paths and cycle tracks, with enhanced connectivity via the provision of five new connections to the Old Rail Trail Greenway.
Vehicular access is proposed from both the Garrycastle Road (R916) and from Brawny Road and incorporates dedicated cycleways and pedestrian routes forming the “Brawny Access Road” with the aid of funding from the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF).
A new Urban Public Space and Community Hub building is central to the proposal, envisaged to create a sustainable and attractive public space that integrates seamlessly into the existing Brawny area and its environs. There will also be two new creche/childcare facilities serving the area.
Westmeath County Council is delighted that this significant housing project is moving forward and the making of the Strategic Housing Application is an important step in the delivery of 576 homes in Athlone and in the County.
Visit the Lissywollen Strategic Housing Development website.
