Council gives go-ahead for new apartment complex in Mayo town

Mayo County Council has given the green light to a 23-unit housing development in West Mayo.

The local authority has approved planning permission for the construction of 23 apartments. The apartments will be located in five two-storey terraced buildings on a 1.1-acre site at Horkan's Hill in Westport.

Permission was granted after the council asked the developer to look at aspects of the design of the project. The developer had originally sought to develop 16 three and two-bedroom duplex apartments and eight three-bedroom town houses on the site. However, council planners expressed misgivings about the design of the two duplex blocks which were to be used for the 16 apartments.

“Horkan's Hill, with its excessively steep gradient, is considered a prominent location in Westport town. Mayo County Council is of the opinion that the physical over dominance of the duplex structures would visually alter the urban landscape on Horkan's Hill,” the planners commented.

The developer was advised to re-examine the original design and replace the duplex units with two-storey terraced units "more in keeping with the character of Horkan's Hill".

Revised designs were submitted to Mayo County Council which consisted of five two-storey terraced buildings and the total number of units was reduced from 24 to 23.

Three of the terraced buildings are each to consist of five two-bedroom apartments while two other buildings are each to consist of four three-bedroom apartments.

Planning has been granted subject to 19 conditions.