Controversial Ashbourne housing development plans rejected by local councillors

A controversial social housing development in Ashbourne has been rejected by local councillors.

Meath County Council's Part 8 planning application for the development of 79 new residential homes on lands north of Ashewood Green and Ashewood Glen, Dunreagh was turned down in a split vote at this week's Ashbourne Municipal District meeting.

Three councillors voted in favour of the project including Suzanne Jamal (FG) Amanda Smith (IND) and Joe Bonner (Ind) while Helen Meyer (SF) Alan Tobin (FG) and Conor Tormey (FF) voted against it.

Ashbourne Municipal District Chairperson, Tormey had the deciding vote.

The development which was to be called ‘Archers Glen’ was to consist of 41 two bedroom houses with a further 34 one bedroom apartments.

In 2023 Meath County Council announced plans to build this fully social housing project under 179a, a section of planning law that allows local authorities to proceed with planning applications without the obligation to engage with the community.

The government introduced the emergency legislation in the same year to address the housing crisis. Under the regulations a local authority could build social or affordable housing on land they own bypassing the normal planning process.

Over 200 submissions were lodged against the development. It’s understood that Meath County Council told reps that the site which cost €3.4M to would not be a suitable for affordable housing.

Residents of Ashewood Green previously stated that they “refused to be bullied” by Meath County Council into accepting this new development that was being rushed through under temporary legislation.

However a Part 8 planning process came into play meant that the council was required to get support of local councillors to be able to forge ahead

Residents had outlined their worries about road safety issues already existing in the area that need to be addressed before any building work goes ahead, they also wanted a mixed tenure of both social and affordable housing as per guidelines set out by the government.

Reacting to the news Ashewood Sub Committee said;

"From the outset, we have consistently supported the development of this site. All we ever asked for were that basic safety concerns around road traffic be addressed and that government guidelines on social mix be properly followed.

"Unfortunately, it has been the inflexibility and unwillingness of Meath County Council to engage meaningfully with residents and councillors over a period exceeding two years that has led to this situation. In the midst of a national housing crisis, it is deeply regrettable that this development cannot proceed at present — but let it be clear, the fault does not lie with residents or councillors.

"For far too long, Ashbourne has been denied the facilities it deserves. We still have no public park, no recycling centre, and a range of other much-needed amenities remain unmet. For these Councillors to stand up to Meath County Council maybe shows that we mean business going forward and will no longer accept being ignored."

Defending voting against the development, Fianna Fail Cllr and estate agent Conor Tormey said:

"We are not doing enough for affordable housing, we see it in our profession everyday, young people getting outbid and I don't think it's fair.

"There is a housing crisis for all, not just for social housing. We have done a lot for social housing over the last couple of years, not enough by the way but we have done absolutely nothing for affordable housing. The council says affordable housing is too dear, if we can't do it on council land, when are we ever going to do it?"

Sinn Fein Cllr Helen Meyer said that she and fellow councillors consistently requested that in accordance with government guidelines, the development include both social and affordable homes.

"We were informed that building affordable housing on council-owned land is not affordable for the council," she said. "If the council cannot build affordable housing on its own land, what hope do we have for our children to purchase their own homes?" she asked.

"Affordable housing is designated for individuals earning between €40,000 and €59,000. A huge number of working people in Ashbourne and surrounding areas fall into that bracket, but neither the government nor Meath County Council have provided a single affordable house in Ashbourne.

To date, Meath County Council has not constructed a single affordable house anywhere in Meath on council-owned land. Government affordable housing policy is not fit for purpose."

Meanwhile, Ratoath Independent Cllr Nick Killian says he is disappointed with the decision.

"I can understand some of the arguments put forward regarding affordable housing, we definitely need it but it was pointed out to the Ashbourne councillors all along that it wasn't possible financially in this particular instance to put affordable housing on that site," he explains.

"I'm in Ratoath but I get a lot of people in the area coming to me about social housing and their first choice is Ashbourne," he added.

"There was going to be around 30 one bed units, I have people as old as 75 who are on the housing list for 14 years looking for a one bed. I have disabled people looking for a one bed. I have single parents with one child looking for a two bed. The decision was not just an Ashbourne decision, the decision that has been taken has affected all of the county.

"It means that we have to start all over again with a delay of around 18 months to 24 months before housing can be built on the site. We need those houses.

"There are 399 applicants in Ashbourne looking for houses, one of the largest towns in the country, what are we going to tell those people in the mean time?

"The Ashbourne councillors may think that they have won a battle but the losers are the people of Co, Meath on the housing list."