Business owners and public sector bodies located at Sandy Road are to meet with the Land Development Agency in the coming months to clear the way for a major 20-acre development at Sandy Road which will deliver up to 1,000 new homes, together with sustainable businesses and leisure spaces.
Businesses such as Galway Bay fm, the GRETB, and the two local authorities will discuss options for relocation as plans progress to create a new neighbourhood just one kilometre from the heart of Galway city.
The Land Development Agency (LDA ) which made yesterday’s announcement, was created in September 2018 with the purpose of opening up state-owned land for development. The Government has committed to capitalising it with €1.25 billion following enactment of its grounding legislation. The LDA has a national focus and is currently active on nine sites that will deliver some 4,000 homes.
On the Sandy Road site, the LDA will collaborate with a range of public sector bodies and other landowners with an interest in the site, which is sub-divided into a number of holdings, to progress the project.
Regeneration
This review is the first step in the regeneration of a key area of Galway city. Similar to the LDA’s recently announced partnership with landowners at Limerick Colbert Station, the initiative represents a blueprint and catalyst for additional transformative projects.
The LDA is finalising a Memorandum of Understanding with Galway City Council in relation to the Site, which will provide for a review of its development potential and how the delivery of much needed affordable accommodation can be achieved.
Yesterday’s announcement comes less than a fortnight after the LDA announced a similar review for a major site in Limerick city centre with capacity for thousands of new homes.
The process will commence immediately with an expert panel appointed by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI ) to conduct a design review.
This panel will be chaired by John Martin, a former senior planner who has worked with An Bord Pleanála, Dublin local authorities and the former Department of the Environment. The panel will complete its review by the end of March 2020.
The review process, which is being funded by the LDA, will evaluate the potential for the site and provide a high-level vision of what the development could comprise. The outcome of the design review will be put on public display and will act as a platform for public consultation and engagement to ensure that the people of Galway have their say in how the project delivers high-quality housing, employment and leisure facilities that adhere to the latest design and sustainability principles.
Chairman of the LDA, John Moran, says the LDA is about helping to deliver thousands of much needed homes all across the country.
“Getting ahead of demand for homes is key to Galway’s continuing success as a regional city. So it is great to see our first project in the west of Ireland kicking into action to help build a new future for Galway.
“The site will bring not just much needed homes but help change how people go about their daily lives. We would like to see a neighbourhood designed for a new way of living given its proximity to Galway city centre and key transport links,” he said.
John Coleman, CEO of the LDA, says the LDA is focused on partnering with State bodies such as Galway City Council and others in order to unlock significant strategic sites for urban regeneration, ultimately resulting in the delivery of affordable homes in sustainable locations and to support the growth of our main cities.
This is an exciting project that builds on the significant momentum we have generated with plans for major developments in Dublin and Limerick.
We are greatly encouraged by the ambition, drive and enthusiasm demonstrated by all the stakeholders in this project and we look forward to engaging with the public throughout this process.”
Brendan McGrath, Chief Executive of Galway City Council, says that under the National Planning Framework, Galway city will grow its population by 50 per cent to 120,000 people in 2040. Much of this growth will take place in the inner suburbs.
“Sandy Road offers a major regeneration opportunity to build a mixed-tenure, urban quarter within 15 minutes’ walk of Eyre Square. This will enable very high quality modern sustainable, non-car based urban living.
This collaboration and partnership with the LDA offers a unique and unparalleled opportunity for the early regeneration of these brown-field lands, acting as a catalyst for the wider redevelopment of Liosbaun and the Headford Road area,” he said.
Radio station
Keith Finnegan, Chief Executive of Galway Bay FM, one of the companies which will be affected says that the radio station looks forward to participating in the process of development.
It is not yet known if the studios which has housed the station since its inception in 1989 will have to be relocated.
“We are pleased to see that there is a proposal to develop the area and we look forward to engaging with the other parties in exploring the possible development,” said Mr Finnegan.
Kathryn Meghen, CEO of RIAI, said the RIAI is a champion for quality and sustainability in the built environment and are delighted to be involved in this project with the LDA and Galway City Council.
“Design Reviews are an excellent tool to explore the potential of a site and develop wide-ranging ideas through the architects’ experience and skillset and their ability to find innovative and holistic solutions. The process produces fresh thinking, is independent and non-directional, and we expect the resultant advice and development ambitions to be open and far-reaching.
“We have been successfully running design reviews for sites of strategic importance, for both public and private clients, including the Diageo Site in Kilkenny City, the Military Barracks in Castlebar, the Tivoli Site in Cork and Bantry harbour and town in Cork.
The news has been welcomed by Labour election candidate Niall McNelis who said that this offers up great opportunities.
“There is now potential for a new urban quarter for the city on 20 acres of public owned lands that will build 1,000 affordable and social housing. It is also possible that this can be a non-car dependent development. It’s a 15min walk to Eyre Square and the new public transport network and bus connex will connect this development.
Catalyst
“This will be a catalyst for the development of Liosbaun and this side of the city. I welcome the announcement that the REAI will look at blue sky thinking and begin the discussion of what the area will look like, this will then feed into the public consultation process and determine the local area plan.
“This must be a priority project and developed over the next three to five years. Also consultation with existing tenants in the area must take place now and that everyone gets behind this project,” he said.
Deputy Hildegarde Naughton also welcomes the news.
“I met with the CEO of the Land Development Agency, John Coleman, last September in Galway, when I invited him to meet with the Simon Community. He indicated at the time that this particular area was under review and I am therefore very pleased with this announcement,” she said.
“Affordable housing, particularly for our young people, is an issue that we are tackling. I am therefore very pleased that the LDA has been working in close collaboration with Galway City Council in order to provide much needed affordable housing and community facilities. Both bodies are to be commended for their work,” she added.
“This is a promising start to a process that will see consultation and collaboration with land owners in the vicinity. Most importantly, the outcome of the design review will be put on public display and will allow for public consultation and engagement. It is vital that the people of Galway have their say,” she added.
“The simple fact is that, due the policy pursued prior to the recession, local authorities lost many of the people who had experience in directly building houses. Additionally, the crash drove many of our skilled craftsmen and women to the four corners of the earth. The Government are doing all that they can to rebalance the housing sector and this announcement is proof of our ability to do so,” Dep Naughton concluded.
