Application lodged to continue work on Charlestown housing
Housing body Respond has submitted an application to Westmeath County Council planners seeking retention permission to finish a number of partially completed buildings at its Balnamona housing development on the western side of Mullingar.
The application relates to four two-storey houses, 19 duplex units, five bin stores, a crèche and a community building at Balnamona, Charlestown.
The move comes as Respond continues efforts to complete the 99-home residential development. The approved housing body had previously committed to delivering a scheme which includes highly energy-efficient BER A2-rated homes, the early learning and school age care facility and community amenities.
The first phase of the development was completed in February 2025, when 33 social homes were delivered in partnership with Westmeath County Council. Progress on the remainder of the scheme has been hampered by delays and contractor issues.
Fianna Fáil councillor Ken Glynn welcomed the latest planning application, saying it represents a positive step towards completing a development that has faced a number of setbacks.
“It is a positive thing,” Cllr Glynn said. “When the issues arose with the most recent stoppage on site, a representative from Respond contacted me and explained that there was a problem and that they would be seeking to appoint a new developer to complete the approved planning permission as quickly as possible.”
He noted that the need to apply for retention permission highlighted the length of time the project has been delayed: “I think there are about 44 left to be done. This application shows how long this has been going on that they now have to go back and seek retention,” he said.
According to Respond, the development remains on track for completion. Funding for the project has come through a combination of finance from the Housing Finance Agency and a Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) loan from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Cllr Glynn said the delays have had wider consequences, for prospective tenants and also for infrastructure projects linked to the development.
“What I welcome most is that they are back on site and getting this finished,” he said. “It’s been holding up everything, particularly traffic-calming measures and improvements around the Balnamona Cross junction. I’ve been raising the issues with it for the last 15 or 20 years.”
He added that residents living in the area have been left in limbo while the development remains unfinished: “For the residents of Charlestown and Balnamona, they can’t get anything done in their estate because the whole thing is in limbo at the moment,” he said.
Respond's plans for an early learning facility at Balnamona will provide full-day childcare for children aged one to six years, while the accompanying community building is intended to strengthen local ties.
While welcoming progress, Cllr Glynn urged Respond to move the project to completion without further delay: “This development should have been finished by now,” the Fianna Fáil representative said. “There are people on housing lists waiting for these homes. My message is simple: get a move on and get this sorted, because it has dragged on for far too long.”