Way cleared for planning for 15 new homes in south Mayo town

THE way has been cleared for the construction of 15 houses in Ballinrobe after local councillors agreed to a material contravention of the county development plan.

The homes are proposed at Cill O Seighin and form part of an existing estate.

However, the zoning on the subject lands meant the proposal was contrary to the zoning provision for Ballinrobe, requiring a material contravention.

In recommending the contravention at a municipal district meeting this week, council management said the proposal would complete the existing housing development.

The development plan highlights a housing target of 122 units for Ballinrobe town. Given the national housing crisis, there is a housing need in Ballinrobe for additional new houses. Therefore, the 15 units proposed was considered a much-needed private residential development.

No public submissions objecting to the contravention were received by Mayo County Council.

Councillor Michael Burke proposed its adoption, noting the site was becoming an eyesore.

He also highglighted how lands that are zoned are not going to be coming onto the market. Other proposals will have to be looked at if houses are to be built.

Councillor Damien Ryan said they were capped with the amount of land they could zone and a lot of that will never come on stream.

On the deferred residential zoned land tax, he said this needs to be looked at again, noting a 'one fits all' approach will not work.

We need to turn on the tap and increase land supply, was the view of Councillor Gerry Murray. Any landbank that is serviced should be on the table for housing.

People should be incentivised to develop land, not penalised.