A total of 22.5 hectares of land is required to meet the development demands of Ballinrobe until 2018.
That’s according to Mayo County Council which is in the process of drawing up a town development plan.
The council made itst estimation based on studies carried out in the area and population predictions. Currently there are 2.5 people living in the average Ballinrobe household.
The draft plan, which was delayed by the route selection process for the proposed Ballinrobe by-pass, has already been on public display once from which 33 submissions were received and taken on board by the council.
Now that a preferred route has been identified for the by-pass, works on finishing the development plan are progressing and the council expects the final plan to be adopted by the end of the year. The plan will act as a blueprint for the future planning of Ballinrobe until 2015.
Independent councillor and committee chairman Harry Walsh said he was not sure if it was a good idea to zone so much land while there are a lot of empty properties and half developed properties in the town.
