228-home plan ‘a big plus’ for link road funding bid in Donegal Town - Donegal Daily

A major 228-home development proposed for Donegal Town could strengthen the council’s case for funding a long-sought link road.The proposed road would link the...

A major 228-home development proposed for Donegal Town could strengthen the council’s case for funding a long-sought link road.

The proposed road would link the Abbey Vocational School area with the Old Laghey Road, easing traffic congestion and opening up lands for housing.

Local councillors renewed calls for the project to be pursued through the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund.

The fund is designed to pay for infrastructure, such as roads, needed to enable new housing developments to go ahead.

The call comes against the backdrop of plans by David Mahon Properties Ltd for 71 houses and 157 apartments at Glebe and Raforker, along with four retail units, a crèche and public open space.

The development has attracted submissions and an objection from local residents , including concerns over additional traffic in an area already affected by congestion, particularly around Abbey Vocational School.

Donegal Town had previously sought Infrastructure Investment Fund support for the link road but was unsuccessful .

At this week’s meeting of the Municipal District of Donegal, Fianna Fáil Cllr Micheál Naughton said the new housing application had significantly changed the picture.

“The reality was we needed to have an application for houses before we could have applied,” he said.

“I want the council to put whatever pressure we can to the Department that we get the funding for the road.

"We have the cart there, now we need to put the horse in front of it."

Referring to the housing application now being in place, Cllr Naughton described it as “a big plus.”

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An architect's impression of the 228-home residential development at Glebe, Donegal Town, comprising 71 houses and 157 apartments, along with four retail units. Image credit: William Donoghue & Associates / LRD Planning Application

Sinn Féin Cllr Noel Jordan backed the renewed push, saying councillors were well aware of the need for additional housing in Donegal Town following their work on the Local Area Plan.

Cllr Jordan acknowledged concerns, saying, "there are people worried about traffic congestion, and certainly so, but we need to put that investment there. There is a huge housing need."

He described the application for more than 220 homes as “a massive boost to Donegal Town” and said the required funding needed to be secured from the Department.

Council official John Gallagher said the project was raised again during a meeting with officials dealing with the Infrastructure Investment Fund on 1st September.

Mr Gallagher said the Department had assured the council that there would be another call for funding. He also indicated that the housing development should strengthen the overall picture when a fresh application is made.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Naughton welcomed the 228-home proposal but warned that it needed to be accompanied by the necessary infrastructure.

“If we don’t put the infrastructure in place, and put this road in place, there’s going to be serious issues going forward,” he told Donegal Daily .

Cllr Naughton said he had already raised the link road with Infrastructure Minister Jack Chambers and intends to travel to Dublin again to lobby for the funding.

Cllr Naughton added: “For these houses to happen, this road has to go in, that is a must.”

See more: Four Donegal projects in €1 billion fund could unlock 1,830 houses