The granting of planning permission to Mayo County Council for the conversion of a two-storey derelict building at Lower Charles Street into four one-unit dwellings, was warmly welcomed by members of Castlebar MD at their meeting on Wednesday last. However, the matter gave rise to a debate on housing provision in general, with councillors saying there was an accommodation crisis in the county town.
Complimenting the design plan for the new development, which includes terraced gardens, Cllr Cyril Burke said that the low-level of unit numbers being granted to housing developments was making it non-viable for builders to construct them anymore. He stated: "For years, developers got a bad name during the celtic tiger, not all of it warranted, and now we have a situation where we have no supply because it is not viable for builders to build.
"Every day rents are going through the roof. People in their early 30's are still living at home because they can’t get anything to buy or can’t afford to rent. There is absolutely no investment in the market. I appeal to planners to increase the densities or we will be in the same situation in five years time."
Cllr Donna Sheridan said it was great to see the town centre being regenerated but two-bed apartments and different social housing varieties are required, adding: "The amount of new houses on the market or being built is a real concern. We don’t see that many houses for sale or under construction. The Castlebar Development plan is going out for public consultation from next Tuesday for six weeks and it is so important that people go and look at the plan and put in their submissions, and see what is zoned residential and commercial. I urge everyone to look at it."
Cllr Al McDonnell said: "It seems there is demand for one-beds but I agree the optimum is two-beds. I don’t believe Planning have discretion because in the adoption of the development plan, we must insist on a minimum of 35 units per hectare ie around 15 per acre and I think if Mayo County Council give permission for 8-10 and it is appealed, the planning regulator will insist on the higher density. There should be discretion, some areas require higher densities than others and what’s recommended is a disaster. As Cllr Burke said, no-one is building now, an ordinary bungalow that cost €250,000 to build five years ago, now costs half a million."
Members were informed that the Charles St development is scheduled for completion in Quarter 4, 2024, and that approval has been received to put the development of nine units in Carnacon out to tender.
