Large scale housing project given green light for Tuam

Nearly 150 homes will be built

THE first major private housing project in approximately 20 years is set to be built in Tuam after a residential development of 149 homes was granted planning permission.

The Large Scale Residential Development (LRD) will be built on a 4.2hectare (10.3acre) site in the townland of Farranamartin on the Galway Road, which is zoned as Residential Phase 1. Beradine Ltd were granted planning permission for the project by Galway County Council.

Local authority planners attached 31 conditions with planning approval for the housing project. The ruling can be appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks from the date of the decision.

The 149 units will be made up of 99 three-bedroom houses and 26 two-bedroom homes. Eight of the units with be four-bedroom dwellings, while 16 of them are to be one-bedroom houses.

A single-storey creche for 36 childcare care places close to the main entrance of the development will be built, and there are plans to demolish an existing derelict house and sheds on the site.

The entrance to the development site, which is owned by the applicant, is located beside the Circle K service station. It adjoins the Hazel Court and Country Meadows estates, and Tuam Celtic AFC grounds.

The private housing project is separate to the 62 social housing development on a nearby site on the Galway Road, where initial works have just started.

However, the application does provide for a possible pedestrian connection between the estates, as well as possible future connections with other residential developments in the area and surrounding lands that are zoned as Residential Phase 2.

There are 271 car parking spaces, 497 bicycle parking spaces and 80 short-term visitor spaces planned for the estate. It will also provide communal open space and a playground.

Two submissions were made by residents living close to the site. These raised concerns with matters such as increased traffic on the Galway Road, loss of privacy, the impact that construction would have on adjoining properties, and pollution from noise, dust, traffic and lighting.

The 149-unit housing development was one of two private housing projects for Tuam submitted to local authority planners in June.

Further information has been requested from County Hall on the application by Leadlane (Tuam) Ltd to build 74 homes on a 3.1hectare (7.6acre) site on the Athenry Road, on land zoned Residential Phase 1.

County Councillors voted in favour of making changes to the County Development Plan last February to allow R1 and R2 zoned lands to be treated equally when it comes to planning.

This decision was aimed at making the 42hectares (103acres) of R2 zoned lands around Tuam more attractive for developers, and could lead to the construction of up to 1,500 new homes in the area.