Seven-home mixed housing development granted permission in Leitrim

A planning application for the construction of housing in a South Leitrim town has received conditional planning permission.

Carrick na Brack Developments Ltd applied for permission on February 13 to construct a total of seven residential units in Drumshanbo.

The proposed development is to be located in the Mountain View estate and will consist of a mix of residential housing types.

Plans include two two-storey terraced blocks comprising three two-bedroom houses, along with one five-bedroom, two-storey detached house.

The application also included provision for car parking, landscaping, connections to all public services, and all associated ancillary works.

The application was approved by Leitrim County Council on April 9 with 18 conditions attached.

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A letter issued by the Council to Carrick na Brack Developments Ltd, dated April 8, detailed the conditions.

These include that, prior to the commencement of development, the developer shall lodge with the Planning Authority a bond from an insurance company or a cash deposit to the amount of €49,000, comprising €7,000 per dwelling unit.

It also stated that prior to commencement, the developer must submit detailed floorplans and elevations showing opaque glazing on the first floor at the gable ends of both sets of terraced houses in the interests of proper planning and development.

The development shall not impair existing land or road drainage. All surface water generated on site shall be connected into the existing buildings’ drainage network and shall not be permitted to flow onto the public road.

Site development and building works shall be carried out between the hours of 8am and 7pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 2pm on Saturdays.

No site development or building works shall take place outside of these hours without the written consent of the Planning Authority.

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Local councillor Brendan Barry has welcomed the application receiving planning permission for new housing during a housing supply shortage.

“It’s welcome to see a developer submitting a planning application and getting approved for new housing. New houses are very much needed,” said Cllr Barry.

“Rents are skyrocketing for people and there are so many people that would like to move back to Leitrim for the quality of life and family and where they grew up.

“Many of them are finding it very difficult to find houses to buy and to rent. For these houses to be built is very welcome, it’s very badly needed,” he added.

Many housing developments in South Leitrim have been on hold for years, with developers ready to proceed but hindered by limited and insufficient wastewater capacity.

Uisce Éireann is planning a €32 million upgrade to the Carrick-on-Shannon water treatment plant, which is already operating at full capacity.

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However, due to planning, land acquisition, and other requirements, the new section of the plant is not expected to be commissioned until 2030.

This, in turn, delays the delivery of much-needed homes and causes knock-on effects elsewhere.

“It would be good to see Uisce Éireann address issues and try to get a more reliable water and sewage waste treatment system in place to bring about further development,” added Cllr Barry.