Welcome for 50 new homes in Mayo town 'but many more are needed'

The new 50-house development on the Golf Course Road in Westport, which includes a number of social houses, has been warmly welcomed by members of Westport Belmullet Municipal District (MD).

Councillors were given a tour of the development recently in advance of its official opening and described themselves as hugely impressed with the estate, which is to be called Bog Gate Domain.

Cllr Brendan Mulroy said the new houses were "fantastic" but warned that the time had come for the council to find more land for housing as the need in the locality was great.

“I know we have some land on the Lodge Road but I also know there is other land for sale in Westport. These 50 houses will free up other houses in Westport for rent, which is good, but in relation to affordable houses, we need to be buying land, because if we have land, the Government has the money for housing. So we need to purchase land now and then get on to our local TDs to make sure we get the money. 

"As an MD, we need to start housing people left, right and centre, with both affordable and social housing.” 

Cllr John O’ Malley said there was no doubt the new development was “beautiful” and he hoped "a few more similar schemes can happen because we need housing badly".

Cllr Peter Flynn said the 50 families getting these houses were "incredibly lucky".

"It is an amazing addition for any family and the best of luck to them. My only reservation is it was a lost opportunity on this 18.5-acre site just to build 50 houses on it. We should have at least 100 homes there including one and two-bed apartments, which are really needed. 

"Right now we really have nothing in terms of provision of housing in West Mayo and we do need to figure out how we are going to address the entire housing need for the area. There is nothing in the pipeline in our villages whereas small little clusters like the social housing built in Aughagower in recent years had a huge impact and brought life back to the communities.” 

Cllr Flynn added that the focus of the council was on building three-bed houses.

“If you look at the real housing need in Mayo, most are looking for 1-2 beds, either single parents or parents with a child, so our housing need and supply are completely at odds.” 

While he agreed there was a need for more council land for housing, he welcomed the Lodge Road land and added there could be more available in the area. However, he said residents in new housing developments in the Lodge Road area were still awaiting proper infrastructure of public lighting, footpaths and safe access, which needed to be provided by the council as soon as possible.

Responding to concerns raised, the head of the district, Seamus O'Mongáin agreed there was a significant bank of council land now available on the Lodge Road and said he would see that as the next scheme for development by the council.

“As for the upgrade of infrastructure there, the local transport plan has now been adopted for Westport and under this plan those works can then be progressed.”