Council green lights 850-home plan for Dunboyne

A MAJOR residential development of 850 homes on lands adjacent to Dunboyne Railway Station has been given the green light by Meath Co Council.

John Connaughton Limited has been granted planning permission for 853 resident units, a cafe, medical unit, two retail units, a community room and two creches on lands at Station Road (L2228) and Old Navan Road (R147), Dunboyne in the townlands of Dunboyne, Clonee, Castle Farm and Loughsallagh.

Construction of a section of the Dunboyne Eastern Distributor Road is also part of the plans.

The news has been welcomed by local councillors who said it would provide “much needed housing for local families including a percentage of social and affordable homes.”

The development is earmarked for a 21.9 hectare site, of which 15.9 hectares is net developable lands and the proposal includes a mix of apartments, duplex units and houses.

The site is generally bounded by Station Road (L2228) to the south, Dunboyne Train Station and the Iarnród Éireann rail line to the West, a cluster of detached houses to the south east and greenfield lands to north and east.

The proposed development includes modifications to two roundabouts on the Old Navan Road, (R147).

The overall development provides for 853 residential units made up of 398 apartments in three blocks of one to six storeys with 121 one-bed, 258 two-bed and 19 three-bed apartments, and each with balconies or terraces; 112 duplex units in six blocks of two to four storeys consisting of 60 two-bed and 52 three-bedroom units, each with balconies or terraces.

The plans also include 343 houses of one to three storeys made up of four 2-bed units, 308 3-bed units and 31 four-bedroom units. Each house will have an associated rear private garden.

Apart from housing, the development also includes a cafe with outdoor seating, a medical unit, two retail units, a community room and two creches and the construction of a section of the Dunboyne Eastern Distributor Road.

Cllr Maria Murphy said the additional housing would be welcome in Dunboyne. “It will include social and affordable housing which is badly needed for our young people. The proposals also include two creches and a medical centre.”

She said the proposals also include the construction of the eastern distributor road which would link the road from Dunboyne Railway Station to the old Navan Road.

“This ring road around the village will be very welcome.”

She pointed out that the land in question had been zoned residential since the railway project had been announced. “This has been expected for a long time. The density was always gong to be high because of its proximity to the railway station. There seems to be a good mixture of housing types,” she said.

Cllr Caroline O'Reilly said it was very welcome to see so many new homes planned for Dunboyne where it is badly needed.

“There have been some concerns about density but with the construction of the distributor road and the developmets proximity to the railway station, it won't increase congestion, but will take traffic away from the village.

“The development will include social and affordable houses which will be available to local people,” she added.