Delay frustration as councillors criticise AHBs

Delays in housing delivery and stalled developments involving approved housing bodies drew sharp criticism from councillors at the March meeting of Westmeath County Council.

Cllr Mick Dollard said there is growing frustration in Mullingar, pointing to a derelict site near Springfield Cottages that has remained undeveloped for more than a decade despite having planning permission.

He said the site, in the ownership of Clúid, is located just a short distance from a nine-unit turnkey development currently under construction, and questioned why progress had not been made.

Council officials confirmed they have been in ongoing contact with Clúid and the site developer, and that the housing body intends to complete works at Ashe Road before turning its attention to the Springfield location.

They acknowledged that the site is now designated as derelict and said alternative options may be considered if progress is not made.

Cllr Dollard was highly critical of the performance of approved housing bodies, stating that Clúid and Respond have been “an absolute disaster” in terms of delivering housing in Mullingar.

Concerns were also raised about unfinished developments elsewhere, including a scheme at Charlestown, while Cllr Ken Glynn questioned whether adequate infrastructure such as traffic calming is now being required in newer projects.

The chief executive of Westmeath County Council, Barry Kehoe, said all new housing developments have to comply with the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS), which requires estates to be designed to maintain low traffic speeds, though he acknowledged such standards were not always applied in older permissions.

Updates were also provided on a number of ongoing and planned housing projects across the county.

At Connaught Street in Athlone, number 53 is being redesigned ahead of a planning application, while number 59 has received stage two approval and is progressing to tender.

The long-awaited St Hilda’s project has also reached stage two approval, allowing it to move towards planning, while the Marist site has stage three approval with delivery targeted for the fourth quarter of the year.

In Athlone, works at Cornamagh are ongoing with completion expected in the third quarter, and there has been an approach from an approved housing body to deliver cost rental units at the site, though this is still awaiting departmental approval.

Councillors were also told that Greally Park is nearing completion and is expected to be ready for allocation in April.

At Dun an Rí, Athlone, a Respond-led development is close to final agreement stage.

Meanwhile, in Castlepollard, nine homes at Kingscourt are being acquired by the council; they comprise five three-bed houses and four two-bed bungalows.

Separately, concerns were raised about a lack of visible progress at the Coola Meadows development in Kilbeggan, where councillors said work had stalled in recent weeks.

Officials said they had contacted the developer, who confirmed the project is continuing, and homes to be advertised under the affordable housing scheme once ready.

(See separate article from the county council on this subject, released since the March meeting, page 31.)

Despite the updates, councillors across the chamber expressed concern about delays, delivery timelines and the overall pace of housing provision, with calls for stronger oversight and greater urgency in progressing approved schemes.