Almost 580 new homes are set to be built in Athlone, County Westmeath following the approval of planning permission by An Bord Pleanála.

The approval represents an important milestone in the delivery of a housing project that Westmeath County Council, through its Housing Capital Team, has been working to deliver for some time. The project has been developed with the support of the elected members of the Council and working with our stakeholders, including the Housing Agency, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the residents of Brawny. Following a procurement process, the Council has partnered with Alanna-Roadbridge Joint Venture to progress the project. Details of the proposed development are available on a dedicated website - lissywollenshd.ie.

The proposed development will deliver 176 social homes and 400 private homes in Athlone at a location that is ideally and centrally located in terms of easy access to the broad range of services and facilities that Athlone has to offer. These include the Old Rail Trail Greenway, the Regional Sports Centre and Fitness Park, primary, secondary and third level education facilities, sporting facilities, and transport facilities to name but a few.

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The proposed development is on 17.6 hectares of land in the ownership of Westmeath County Council, to the west of Scoil na gCeithre Máistrí and to the east and west of the existing housing at Brawny Road. It provides for a contemporary scheme of 576 residential units consisting of 285 houses and 291 apartments and duplexes.

The proposed new homes vary in size and scale from two-storey housing to a five-storey landmark building at the North-West area of the site and are organised in a network of streets with nine new public greenspaces.

The development is divided into five distinct character areas, linked by an extensive green network of paths and cycle tracks, providing enhanced connectivity with the Old Rail Trail Greenway. Vehicular access is proposed from both the Garrycastle Road (R916) and from Brawny Road and incorporates dedicated cycleways and pedestrian routes forming the "Brawny Access Road" with the aid of funding from the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF). A new Urban Public Space and Community Hub building is central to the proposal envisaged to create a sustainable and attractive public space that integrates seamlessly into the existing Brawny area and its environs. There will also be two new creche/childcare facilities serving the area.

Westmeath County Council is delighted that this significant housing project is moving forward. The obtaining of planning permission is a critical step in the delivery of 576 homes, including 176 social homes, in Athlone and in the County and facilitates a construction commencement in 2021.