Plan to allow for new homes

A NORTHSIDE local election candidate is calling on the public to engage fully with a plan for their area.

The Castlelands Area Plan was unveiled to councillors last week at the Balbriggan/ Swords area committee meeting. 

It is a significant plan which is expected to be implemented over the next 10 years and will have an impact in north Fingal for decades to come.  

The plan will be open for submissions from the public between May 7 and May 28 and will then be voted on at a full council meeting on July 8. 

The council-owned land could allow for the building of up to 1,000 homes and is expected to bring Balbriggan's population to over 30,000. 

The plan presented at the council also outlined other key elements including the space for swimming pool, football pitches, school and playground areas,” he said.  

With regards to the housing, it is proposed that 60 percent will be sold privately, 30 percent sold as affordable and 10 percent social housing.

Garrett Mullan, who will contest the local elections for the Social Democrats in the Balbriggan Local Electoral Area (LEA), said: “There are a number of important questions arising from the presentation of this plan. 

“Firstly, in regards to the social housing allocation which is very low considering the land is State owned. I am also informed locally, that all primary schools are at capacity and would hope that any increase in population will be met with increased capacity of school, health and others.

“The increased population will mean increased traffic demand but the plan does not indicate any increase in public transport provision and I am very concerned about that because the town is already clogged up.”

Mr Mullan said the promise of amenities and housing must be implemented appropriately and “mistakes of the past” will not be tolerated by the local community. 

“People should engage with the process,” he said. “The level of participation in the initial consultation in August 2018 was significant. Within that participation, the public demand for a swimming pool was very strong. 

“That the council responded to that is a positive indication, so people should definitely make submissions.”