Green light for 223 housing units on outskirts of Navan
Proposals for a 223 unit residential development at development at Athlumney, Alexander Reid, Farganstown and Ballymacon, Navan has been given the green light by Meath County Council.
The plans submitted by Michael Smith sought permission for 223 residential dwellings, including 26 one-bed units, 50 two-bed, 138 three-bed and and nine four-bed units as well as a crèche.
The mix of residential units consists of 155 houses and 68 apartments. The apartments are three to four storey simplex/duplex own door apartments arranged in five blocks. All housing is two storey in height. The crèche is a two storey standalone building (c.443sq.m) with allocated car parking and set down area. Two submissions were received on the plans.
The proposed development includes all associated site development works including reprofiling of the site, works to an existing drainage ditch, the construction of a temporary foul water pumping station and rising main, public lighting, three ESB substations, bin and bicycle storage structures, car parking and landscaping of open space.
It also provides for connections, both vehicular and pedestrian, to the residential development by Meath County Council known as Gort Na Glaise including culverting part of an existing drainage ditch, removal of part of an existing hedge and existing boundary walls constructed within the Gort Na Glaise development.
The development includes pedestrian/cycle connections onto the LRD6 and will provide a pedestrian crossing point on Old Road to the south of the application site. The development will be accessed by extending a spur off an existing roundabout junction on the new LRD 6 distributor road to the north of the application site. The proposed development also provides for an additional vehicular/pedestrian access to connect to the main access road proposed as part of a development to the north / north-west of the application site.
A footpath and cycle path will be constructed along the western side of the site to provide access to the new development.
Cllr Eddie Fennessy noted that the development includes 26 one bed units.
"One-bed supply on this development is quite high. It exceeds the 10 per cent Part V social housing figure the council obtain on private residential developments. I urge the council to give serious consideration to obtaining all those properties. There is huge demand for one-bed social properties in Navan. Turnkey purchase, if it is viable, would-be money well spent in my opinion.
“There is also an affordable housing element to this development at 10 per cent of the overall unit figure. Demand for affordable housing is also quite high. The squeezed middle qualifies for precious little in terms of housing, anything that alleviates pressure on that sector of society is very welcomed indeed.
“We can expect lots more developments of this type over the coming years in Navan and it is good to see it coming. However, the provision of social infrastructure in and around such developments is equally as important as the provision of housing. The families who make their homes there, need access to the means to enjoy a comfortable life in these new communities.
“A creche is proposed on the development. At a minimum, the developer needs to ensure that facility is open and accommodating the children of the first families who move on to the estate,” he said.