Site identified for major Ballina housing development
There is the potential to develop up to 280 homes on a site in Ballina, according to the Land Development Agency (LDA), the State's affordable housing body.
The LDA's Director of Planning Services Dearbhla Lawson, in response to a query from Mayo Senator Mark Duffy, told a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing that the Mayo County Council utility site beside St Patrick’s Church on McDermott Street has been identified as a potential site for an LDA project in Mayo.
Ms Lawson said the focus for identifying state lands has been on the towns with a population of over 10,000 and Mayo has a limited number of sites in this regard but the LDA had identified the McDermott St site.
“It is a class 2 site and is moderately constrained, with potential for 190 to 280 homes. It is currently zoned for infrastructure and utilities, so it would be a site owned by the local authority,” she said. “The local authority may have other sites because this one has been shortlisted on foot of a long progress. There are probably more infill sites and I am very happy to take this up with the local authority.”
Senator Duffy said this proposal is extremely promising and urged the LDA to propose additional projects in both Castlebar and Ballina.
“I am aware councillors have identified several others in Castlebar. I would like to work with my fellow delegates to support with delivery because there is great potential to help shoulder the burden of the challenge of the housing crisis,” he said.
Senator Duffy identified the Ballina Mineral Water site as one that also would have potential for a "powerful and impactful" housing development.
“It is in the heart of the town centre and if we are serious about regenerating and revitalising our town centres, we need to realise that while the sites may not be of the most attractive scale, they could have a huge impact in being the catalyst for regeneration.
“There are seven residential units on the streetscape. A step behind that is a lot of green space and brownfield sites. Therefore, an old mineral water site can offer a lot from a regeneration point of view, providing housing, additional parking in the town centre and public realm work to stimulate regeneration."
