Major housing project in Ballina gets go-ahead

Councillors who gave the green light to a 80-unit housing development in Ballina have unanimously agreed that some of the homes should be allocated as affordable housing and that traffic calming measures should be implemented in the area.

At last week’s municipal district meeting, councillors approved Part 8 planning permission, which is a method by which a local authority approves developments it carries out itself, for the proposed construction of 80 units at the former Cheshire Homes site on the Killala Road.

The breakdown of the units is as follows: 20 one-bedroom apartments, 43 two-bedroom apartments, 16 three-bedroom semi-detached houses and one five-bedroom bungalow. Thirty houses can only be accessed from Rockwell estate and the other 50 will be accessed from the Killala Road.

A number of concerns were raised in the public consultation process over the speed of traffic on the Killala Road. Cllr Marie-Therese Duffy said it should be a condition that traffic calming works be completed prior to the estate being opened.

Head of the district Declan Turnbull said he expects the houses will not be occupied for another two years and hopes traffic calming measures will be completed during this time.

Cllr Jarlath Munnelly welcomed Cllr Duffy’s proposed condition and said councillors were now “taking it in good faith” that these works would be carried out. He said the development represents an opportunity to address the current lack of affordability in housing in Ballina.

“I would like to request up to 10 units be made affordable housing to be sold to first-time buyers who meet the criteria,” he said. “It would enhance and broaden who this scheme applies to.”

Cllr Annie-May Reape said affordable housing options are desperately needed.

“If ever there was a time we needed both social and affordable housing, this is it. The situation is beyond belief at the moment,” she said. “It is sad people in their 70s have nowhere to go. We should start to negotiate on this estate as soon as possible.”

Cllr Duffy said there has been a lack of affordable housing in Mayo and 10 units in the new estate would be a great start.

“Only five affordable housing have been delivered in Mayo to date. Ten houses would be a starting point for Ballina and we would welcome more,” she said.