HOUSE BUILDING THROUGH ROOF
WE PINPOINT THE LOCATIONS AS HUNDREDS OF HOMES PLANNED
THE SHAPE of Wexford town and its environs looks set to change dramatically as almost 500 houses, through various planning applications from private developers, have been approved for building, with decisions on 283 others currently awaiting council approval or rejection.
As it stands, permission has been granted for 494 houses, with a few key areas set to see the majority of the building work, a lot of which has already begun.
The areas of Coolcotts, Crosstown and Ardcavan, Clonard Great and Little, and the general area around Mulgannon, Rocksborough and Maudlintown, look set to grow considerably during the ongoing development burst.
In Coolcotts, the local area will potentially see 151 new houses built in the future. Planning permission has already been granted to CFO Construction for 71 houses. Two further developments: four houses by KLS Developments, and a first phase of 25 houses by Oakville Homes, are awaiting a council decision. A fourth application, by Bawn Developments, for 51 houses in the area, is currently going through an appeal process with An Bord Pleanala.
Crosstown and Ardcavan also looks set to see considerable development in the coming years. LHM Properties Holdings Ltd have received permission for nine houses with Liam Neville Construction given the goahead for 24 more new builds in the area. An application for a further 24 houses, made by H & R Chartered Homes Ltd is currently under appeal with An Bord Pleanala.
Despite the general trend of development across the bridge, two sizeable applications have been refused in the Crosstown area: Ferrybank Enterprises Limited were turned down in their plan for 99 houses in the area, while local businessman Michael Hayes was granted permission for 59 houses but that was subsequently overturned by An Bord Pleanala.
Further along that route, an application made by Monigle Ltd for 34 houses in Ballytramon was also refused.
The area of Clonard was one that saw considerable development during the last building boom with Clonard Village the main marker of that era. It is, once again, earmarked for considerable development in the near future.
So far, two sizeable applications have been granted: H & R Chartered Homes recently received permission for 46 houses at Clonard Great and Killeens, while William Neville and Sons have permission for 59 houses at Clonard Little. H & R Chartered Homes have a second application for ten houses at Clonard Great and Clonard Little, that will be located across the road from the 46 already granted.
The areas around the Rosslare Road entrance to the town also look set to become more heavily populated with the bulk of building work likely to take place in that general location.
The most high profile of these developments is Colm Neville Construction’s Roxborough Manor, where planning has been granted for 181 houses in Mulgannon. Outline permission has also been granted to Tom O’Leary for an eight-house development in the area.
Three other developments are awaiting a decision from Wexford County Council. Eithne Scallan has applied for permission for 14 houses in Maudlintown, on a site opposite Wexford Creamery, while Morrowpoint Properties Ltd have two separate applications in for land at Rocksborough, Strandfield and Kerlogue. Each of the applications is applying for permission for 71 houses, on a first and second phase basis.
In Wexford town, development is on a smaller scale. The most high profile application to go for consideration in recent times was HPC Sales’ plan to build 45 apartments on Trinity Street. Wexford County Council recently refused permission on this development.
Among the granted town developments are: Trenco Developments’ plan to convert Strandfield Manor into six apartments, plus their application for a further 18 houses at that residential development. Adamar Developments have also been approved for the construction of 12 houses at Whiterock South.
Advantage is being taken of the link roads on the outskirts of town also, with development increasing in nearby rural areas like Crossabeg and Barntown, and along rural areas on the town outskirts.
In the Crossabeg, St Edmond’s and Artramon areas, two housing developments have been given the go-ahead: Padraic Donohoe has permission for ten houses at Crossabeg and Artrmon, while Transnational Acquisitions Hitasi Ltd have permission for four units in the area. Closer to town, Garman Properties have applied for permission for 57 houses at Ballyboggan and are awaiting council approval.
Other rural areas seeing development include Ballygorman and Carrick, where Fr John Carroll has been granted planning permission for ten houses; Lake in Bridgetown where Lisa Cowman has been given approval for the completion of six unfinished units in a development; and Advanced Siteworks Ltd have secured permission for three houses in Cleariestown South at Aughwilliam.
The remaining applications relate to Rosslare and its surrounding areas.
Among the granted applications are: Patrick and Mary Kinsella’s plans for seven houses in Mauritiustown; Liam Byrne’s application for five houses in Ballycowan, Kilscoran; Barice Investments’ ten houses in Mauritiustown (alterations to original planning recently approved); and William Fennell’s plans for five houses at Ballygillane Big, St Helen’s. Permission has been sought by Chris and Kathy Lynch for 21 houses at Rosetown, Rosslare while Evelyn McCafferty’s plan for three houses is under appeal with An Bord Pleanala at the moment.
Planning law dictates that 10% of all new developments must be made available for social housing. Wexford County Council has also released statistics detailing their efforts in increasing their stock of social housing, stating that by the end of this year 966 social houses will have been secured countywide, the vast majority of which are being provided through the Housing Assistance Payment function.