Tuam’s railway should open doors to new homes
PROPERTY
Property Insights with Johnny Gannon Fair Deal Property
There is something powerful about the prospect of trains returning to Tuam. For many people, the railway represents a town connected to opportunity. Make no mistake, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity which must now be fully grasped.
Restoring the Western Rail Corridor through Tuam will strengthen transport connections across Galway and Mayo, improving access to jobs, education and services. It could also give builders, businesses and families greater confidence in the town’s future. But that opportunity requires preparation.
We should plan neighbourhoods around the station while the railway is being developed. My proposal is straightforward: introduce a special planning code for suitable land already zoned for housing within two miles of Tuam station.
Agree the standards publicly in advance: appropriate heights, density, daylight, outdoor space, safe access and protection for Tuam’s heritage. Where proposals meet the code and environmental requirements, permission should follow through an expedited process with firm decision deadlines.
Victoria in Australia provides a useful model. Its Mid-Rise Code covers four to six storey apartments in specified zones with established transportation links. Compliance settles the relevant planning standards, and qualifying applications avoid third-party appeals.
Tuam could adapt the principle to its own scale. Four to six storeys may suit some sites; sensitive streets would require lower buildings. Clear rules would help local developers approach lenders with credible projects. That certainty matters financially.
Shorter delays can reduce interest costs and make more schemes viable. Homes near the station will also build the passenger base and support the railway’s future viability. The railway should give infrastructure agencies a shared timetable.
Galway County Council, Uisce Éireann, ESB and transport bodies should identify the same priority sites and coordinate water, wastewater, power, footpaths and cycle connections. Publish who must deliver each connection, when it will be ready and how it will be funded. Coordinating these works with the railway would help serviced housing sites reach construction sooner.
Tuam’s Station Quarter regeneration plans offer a starting point. With homes nearby, the railway could bring customers into local shops, make commuting easier and help younger households remain in north Galway. The railway has a special meaning for the older generations of Tuam. We should make its return mean something for the present generation. A chance to call the town home.
For more information visit www.fairdealproperty.ie