Plans for the construction of 170 houses and apartments on a site in Castlegar have been submitted to An Bord Pleanála.

It’s understood the development will be acquired by Co-operative Housing Ireland for use as social housing.

Lock House Developments Ltd has sought permission to develop the 11.5-acre site north of Bóthar an Chóiste to include:

• 84 two-storey houses (34 two-bed; 42 three-bed and 8 four-bed);
• 8 duplex units (11 one-bed; 24 two-bed and 13 three-bed);
• Block of 17 apartments (10 one-bed and 7 two-bed);
• Block of 21 apartments (12 one-bed and 9 two-bed);
• Two-storey crèche with 46 child spaces;
• Parking spaces for 260 cars and 417 bicycles;
• A central area with formal and informal play areas, some of which will overlook the adjacent designated greenway route.

The plans involve the demolition of an existing house and ruins of another house and outbuilding and the upgrade of the existing Bóthar an Chóiste road from the site to the junction at L5401.

Pedestrian, cyclist and vehicular links are proposed throughout the site and access with the main road, as well as pedestrian and cyclist links to the proposed greenway route.

According to the developers, the project is not a ‘Build to Rent’ scheme. It is understood the scheme will be handed over to Co-operative Housing Ireland.

In any event, a total of 17 of the homes will be transferred to Galway City Council to meet social housing requirements under national legislation.

The land is north of Cluain Riocaird and around 400 metres from Murphy’s Centra shop. It is also adjacent to the boundary of the proposed Galway City Ring Road, which is currently the subject of a High Court judicial review.

Lock House Developments is owned by property developer Tom Broderick and businessman Mick Culhane, who also has an involvement in Galway GAA.

The planning application was made under Strategic Housing Development (SHD) legislation – under the SHD process, applications for residential developments of more than 100 units can be lodged with An Bord Pleanála following consultation with the local authority – in this case, bypassing the usual route of applying to Galway City Council.

The often controversial SHD system was introduced in order to ‘fast track’ the planning process to expedite the construction of new homes.

A planning decision is expected at the end of November.