Planning granted for extension of north Mayo housing estate
Mayo County Council agreed to allow temporary access route to Friars Court estate in Ballina to go through their lands
Planning permission has been granted to extend a Ballina housing estate after Mayo County Council agreed to allow a temporary access road to go through council-owned land.
Mayo County Council granted planning permission to Thawside Ltd for the construction of 47 houses at the rear of the Friars Court estate on the Killala Road in Ballina. The proposed development is to consist of 32 three-bed semi detached houses, 6 two-bed semi detached houses and nine four-bed detached houses.
A similar application on the same site was refused planning permission by An Coimisiún Pleanála in 2024 due to environmental concerns relating to the use of a temporary access road to serve the development.
In order to gain access to the site without going through the existing Friars Court estate, the applicant and Mayo County Council agreed with a proposal to construct a temporary access route on adjacent land owned by the council.
The Office of Public Works also consented to allowing temporary crossings of the Sruffaunbrogue stream located to the south of the site boundary.
Anna Connors, Head of the Ballina Municipal District informed the applicant that 'in principle' Mayo County Council were willing to facilitate temporary access for the duration of the construction works but will require a formal agreement in advance of the commencement works.
The temporary access is expected to be in place for two years during construction and an undertaking was given that when it is removed, all disturbed lands, access areas and watercourse margins affected by the temporary works will be reinstated in accordance with agreed reinstatement proposals from Mayo County Council and the OPW.
An Ecological Impact Assessment prepared to evaluate the potential ecological effects of the proposed residential development stated that a robust and precautionary mitigation strategy will be incorporated and therefore the development will be considered ecologically acceptable.
The Friars Court Resident Association made a submission regarding the application where they stressed that they have no issue with the building of houses but raised concerns in relation to increased traffic levels and safety of residents and children.
Mayo County Council planners stated that these concerns were taken into account but the principle of residential development on the Killala Road site is well established and accepted and the current proposal represented a logical and plan-led extension of the Friars Court estate.
They added that after considering the application and the 'extensive additional information' submitted as part of the application, they recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.