Plan for 84 social housing units at Farganstown

Meath County Council is proposing the construction of 84 social housing units at a site in Farganstown, Navan. The council has applied for planning permission to An Bord Pleanala for the development which will include a substantial number of one and two bedroomed units reflecting local demand.

The new housing scheme will have access from the existing LDR06 distributor road at Farganstown.

The proposal is for two four-storey apartment blocks, eight three-storey duplex units, and ten two-storey semi-detached units.

There will be 34 single bed apartments in the scheme, 37 two bedroomed apartments, seven three-bedhouses and four four-bed dwellings.

Cllr Edward Fennessy welcomed the much needed new housing scheme, and pointed out that there was a big demand for single bed units in recent times. "Demand for social housing support has sky rocketed since the pandemic began last year and has exacerbated existing problems in the housing sector," he said.

"The council's provision of this housing will help struggling families by providing secure accommodation in close proximity to schools, public transport links and employment opportunities."

Cllr Fennessy explained that the council's overall plan for Farganstown aims to develop the site for residential and strategic employment zones.

"This is huge in terms of creating local employment. We have a chronic shortage of office space in town, so much so that I tabled a motion to the Municipal District in January 2019 asking that a portion of lands available in Farganstown be zoned to accommodate retail and industrial.

"I'm delighted that this is now happening, it will bring much needed relief to local entrepreneurs hard pressed to find decent operating space in Navan. This development is much needed and very welcome." Plans for the housing development are on display until 19th March 2021 online at: https://www.meath.ie/council/council-services/planningand-building, at the Meath County Council offices, Buvinda House, Dublin the Offices of An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1.

Meanwhile the new access road which will link Johnstown to zoned land in Farganstown is opening up 91 hectares of land for development, 11.6 hectares of which is in the ownership of Meath County Council.

The proposed 84 unit social housing development is part of the first phase of development will see 445 homes being provided, with a good mix of social, affordable and private homes in the overall numbers. In time, there is potential to deliver up to 1,600 new homes in the area in subsequent phases.