Revised planning application lodged for housing development in Mayo town
Mayo developer lodges plans for a reduced mixed housing scheme in Castlebar having previously been refused planning
A MAYO developer has submitted a fresh planning application for a reduced housing development on a site in Castlebar having been previously refused planning in February.
Harold Conway submitted plans for a new mixed housing development consisting of 20 units and a commercial unit on a site at the corner of Stephen Garvey Way and Mountain View in Castlebar.
In refusing planning permission for the part five storey apartment block, council planners stated that the development would be visually obtrusive due to the 'excessive size and scale of the proposal relative to the surrounding area'.
In the fresh application, Fintan Morrin of The Planning Partnership on behalf of Mr Conway, stated in the planning statement that they have noted the concerns expressed in the previous proposal and reduced the scale, height and the number of apartments and the reasons for the refusal 'do not arise in this case as a barrier to consent'.
In the new plans, the applicant intends to demolish the existing two storey dwelling on the site and construct a part three/part four storey building incorporating 20 apartments which will consist of ten one-bedroom and ten two-bedroom along with a commercial unit for retail or a café / deli.
“The larger units will be well placed to cater for a broad range of family formats, including smaller families but also particularly suited ‘right-size’ scenarios. The proposed development will therefore provide an appropriate and sustainable mix of units, catering for both the smaller and larger household sizes, in contemporary formats, in keeping with local and national policies,” the planning report stated.
The developers stated that the overall project would be anticipated to deliver in the order of €8 million in construction stage investment, creating or supporting in the order of 100 or more jobs, in the town along with housing for in the order of 38 people on completion.
The site located close to the TF Royal Theatre was subject to a previous planning application which was granted by Mayo County Council and upheld by An Bord Pleanála in January 2024.
This application which was not submitted by Mr Conway involved the demolition of the same two-storey building and the construction of a two-storey over basement building comprising two retail units at basement level, retail space at ground level and offices at first floor level.
Mr Morrin concluded in the planning statement that the the issues arising in refusing planning permission for the previous application have been addressed by the current revised and reduced scheme and the 'ongoing national housing crisis justifies a presumption in favour of attracting more housing development, in the right location'.
Mayo County Council indicated that they propose to make its decision on the application by mid August.