Council moves to take five housing estates in charge

Westmeath County Council are to begin the formal process of taking five housing estates in the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District in charge.

The estates are Clog na Leinn in Collinstown, Gleann Petit Lane, Ard na Gréine in Bellview, Radharc an Mhuilinn in Rathwire and Farran Row in Mullingar.

Council taking-in-charge officer Eugene Duffy told councillors that Clog na Leinn comprises 62 units and is a “very well finished” estate.

Gleann Petit Lane consists of three completed units at the entrance to Gleann Petit.

Ard na Gréine in Bellview comprises 24 recently constructed houses, while Radharc an Mhuilinn in Rathwire has 90 houses opposite St Joseph’s School.

Mr Duffy described Radharc an Mhuilinn as a legacy estate and said he was pleased to see it being progressed.

Farran Row consists of 14 units and is unusual in that it was originally a Part 8 development before being sold to an approved housing body, which completed the development. The approved housing body then requested that it be taken in charge.

Mr Duffy said a press advertisement would be placed in local newspapers, and documentation will be uploaded to the council’s online portal for a minimum of four weeks.

Members of the public will then be invited to make submissions or raise any issues they have concerning the estates.

The submissions will be considered as part of a chief executive’s report before the matter returns to the municipal district meeting.

Mr Duffy said he expected that to happen in November or December at the latest this year.

Legacy estates

He also provided an update on several older estates where efforts are continuing to resolve outstanding issues.

At Belvedere Hills in Mullingar, which has 206 units, the council is transferring lands and has a tender out for remediation works.

At Cluain Lorcain in Delvin, the council are dealing with planning issues concerning the wastewater treatment system for the seven-unit development, with construction hoped to begin next year.

Ivy Court in Killucan, where there is an existing 15-unit development and a further 30-unit development behind it, is also being progressed, with the intention of taking the entire estate in charge as one unit.

Killucan Manor Phases 2 and 3, comprising 72 units, remains one of the more difficult cases because of wastewater issues involving Uisce Éireann.

Rathgarve Green is being extended and the council intend to take the entire estate in charge once the extension is complete.

At Ballinamona in Mullingar, an approved housing body has submitted a planning application, while Ardmore Hills has not yet had an application from the developer to be taken in charge.

Supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme