By Diarmaid Doherty
The demand for housing in the Letterkenny area has received another major boost with news that Donegal County Council has purchased a second parcel of land for housing close to the town centre.
On Thursday, the Donegal News revealed that the local authority was behind the purchase of the 8.23 acre site just off High Road, behind the town’s fire station.
The land was sold recently but no details of the buyer or sale price had been disclosed.
The 8.25 acre off Letterkenny’s High Road, outlined in yellow, which has been bought by Donegal County Council
Councillors attending a special meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District on Thursday were officially informed of the land deal.
Details were also confirmed of a second land acquisition in the other end of the town, and relating to a much larger area of land.
The site, which is approximately 14 acres in size, is located at Ballymacool, on the Letterkenny side of the Ballymacool Town Park, opposite the St. Eunan’s GAA club grounds.
It’s understood the land was bought several years ago by an investor during the downturn and Donegal County Council planners had since kept an eye on the land with a view to purchasing the site.
MAIN PIC: The land at Ballymacool which has been bought by Donegal County Council
A deal to buy the land was recently agreed and the council will soon announce plans for development on the site which is ideally located within a ten minute walk of the town centre.
It’s also located close to a host of popular local amenities including Ballymacool Town Park, St Eunan’s GAA club and the Aura Leisure Centre.
In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, Donegal County Council confirmed that it has acquired two large sites in Letterkenny with a view to building in excess of 300 new homes in the town under the Housing for All Programme.
“Given the current housing challenges, this is a significant boost and offers hope for many families in the town,” the statement read.
“In light of the renewed focus on house construction under Housing for All, the Council outlined in early 2022 that it intended to pursue a strategy of significant land acquisition.
“We secured approval for additional staff resources in 2022, from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to help focus on land acquisition and this is now starting to bear fruit. To date we have reached agreement to acquire land in a number of locations throughout the county,” a council spokesperson said.
The statement added: “It is estimated that the two Letterkenny sites alone will result in a direct housing capital investment of over €75m in the local economy. The news is a significant boost to the county, not only from the perspective of the provision of much needed new homes, but the anticipated associated benefits such as building up the confidence in the local construction sector, additional employment, and the potential to attract local construction workers back to the County.
The Ballymacool site location
“The process of turning land into homes will obviously take some time, having regard to the required consultation, planning and procurement processes,” the council spokesperson added.
“However, the acquisition of these well located sites is a major step forward. Given the scale of the proposed developments, it is our intention to set up a specific project team as soon as possible to focus on same.
“Consultation locally with elected members, the community and other groups will be important in framing the developments going forward, so we will not pre-empt that process.
“However, I can confirm that based on various engagements with elected members and other groups we do see a need, and an opportunity, to incorporate sheltered accommodation for older people as well as suitable accommodation for other specific needs. The size of both sites gives us options for an appropriate mix of family homes as well as homes for single people who comprise a large percentage of the housing list in the town.”
The purchase of the two sites in Letterkenny is likely to be discussed at a full meeting of Donegal County Council next Wednesday. The meeting is being held to consider the council Chief Executive, John McLaughlin’s report on submissions made during the public consultation on the Draft Letterkenny Plan and Local Transport Plan.
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