A councillor has cast doubt over the sites identified for thousands of social and affordable homes, pointing out that one had been sold off by Galway City Council last year and two do not have residential zoning.

Last week the Land Development Authority (LDA) released a report identifying eight sites in Galway largely in public ownership where 6,000 homes could be delivered in a similar model to The Sandy Quarter, the first project they are progressing in the West.

The LDA said there was potential for up to 2,240 homes on HSE land at Merlin Park Hospital, up to 1,010 homes at Renmore Barracks, and up to 950 homes at Galway Harbour. The other sites were Ballymoneen Road, Terryland Waterworks on the Dyke Road, Brothers of Charity Services on Old Dublin Road, and City Hall at College Road. It included Sandy Road in the overall number of homes.

But Independent Councillor Donal Lyons said the Ballymoneen site had been sold by Galway City Council to the Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) for the new Cuan na Gaillimhe national school, replacing the former Steiner School. That planning application was well underway.

At least two sites – Merlin Park and the Brothers of Charity –  had been zoned institutional in the last City Development Plan which means residential could not be considered.

Over two decades ago houses had been earmarked for Merlin Park but there was uproar over the impact this would have on the natural habitat. An application for a new hospice at the site was turned down by An Bord Pleanála, due to the adverse effect it would have on the meadows and wildlife.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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