Major Ballina housing project gets the go-ahead

Planning permission has been granted for the development of a substantial number of houses on the Killala Road in Ballina.

Mayo County Council granted revised planning permission to Thawside Ltd for the proposed development at Friars Court, Laghtadawannagh, Killala Road.

The original development was to consist of 40 three-bed semi-detached houses, ten two-bed semi-detached houses, 26 four-bed detached houses and 16 three-bed terraced houses, a total of 92 houses. However, this was reduced to 86 units during the planning process.

The planning permission also includes for all ancillary site works and connections to public services. A creche will also be built as part of the development.

A submission objecting to the proposed development was made by the residents of the Friars Court Housing scheme.

They objected on the basis that the new houses would require the use of the existing access road through their estate, the inadequacy of existing road infrastructure and concerns for the safety of children at play as the planning did not include walls in front of houses.

There were also concerns over the overall traffic safety arising from the proposed development, traffic congestion at the nearby Culleens National School and pyrite issues in the existing Friars Court houses.

However, the planning office of Mayo County Council considered the development to be in line with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and granted permission. It is one of the biggest housing developments in Ballina since the Celtic Tiger era.