Agenda item

To consider the CE’s Report pursuant to Section 179 of the Planning & Development Act, 2000 (as amended) and Part 8 of the Planning & Development Regulations, 2001 (as amended) in respect of the proposed development of 10 social housing dwellings at Lahard, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim

Ms. Mary Quinn, Director of Services provided a detailed over-view of the proposed Part VIII Planning Report in respect of the proposed development of 10 social housing dwellings at Lahard, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. The report as circulated to the Members appears as Appendix No. 1 to the Minutes of the meeting in the Minute Book. Ms. Quinn outlined that the proposal consists of developing a green field site to construct four 2-bed and six 3-bed units with the provision of 23 additional carparking spaces, landscaping works and to connect to the existing infrastructure at Lahard, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim.

Ms. Quinn outlined the policy context within which the development has been designed and to the identified social housing need in Ballinamore. She advised that if the project if approved to proceed it will address the housing need by the provision of 10 additional social housing dwellings in the Lahard Estate,  Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. Ms. Quinn outlined that no submissions were received from An Taisce, Irish Water or the ESB regarding the proposed development and that a total of eight submissions were received from members of the public as detailed in the report. She advised that the submissions received from the public raised concerns over traffic and car parking, restriction of pedestrian movement, removal and potential lack of open green spaces, concerns over the capacity of the town’s water supply and treatment facilities and vacancy of existing housing stock in the town to cater for housing need. Ms. Quinn advised that a consultation process with the Residents had been completed by the Housing Department to listen to their concerns in relation to the project. She concluded her report by recommending that the Part VIII proposal be approved by the members.

Councillor Ita Reynolds-Flynn, Chairperson, stated that she is opposing the proposed development of 10 social housing dwellings at Lahard, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. She expressed her concern of the potential impact that the development would have on the existing residents in the estate, particularly residents that have purchased their dwellings under the Tenant Purchase Scheme. Councillor Reynolds-Flynn also referred to the concern of the existing residents. 

Councillor Caillian Ellis supported Councillor Reynolds-Flynn in opposing the proposed development.

Councillor Enda McGloin queried if the Council could provide a commitment to upgrade the footpaths in the existing estate as part of the suite of works to be completed if the development is approved to proceed.

Councillor Gerry Dolan stated that there is a need for the Council to provide additional social housing dwellings to address the housing need in Ballinamore. Councillor Dolan stated that he receives representations from households that are currently on the Council’s Housing Waiting List seeking social housing support in Ballinamore.

Councillor Paddy O’Rourke supported Councillor Enda McGloin’s proposal to have the footpaths in the existing part of the estate upgraded in tandem with the construction of the new social housing development. Councillor O’Rourke referred to a meeting with the Residents and stated that the existing part of the estate should be brought up to the same standard as the new development rather than having a ‘two-tier’ estate.

Councillor Brendan Barry relayed the concerns of the residents regarding access for emergency vehicles to the estate, the requirement of additional carparking spaces without taking up too much of the green area and if the Council could give a commitment to repair/replace the existing footpaths.

Ms. Mary Quinn, Director of Service, agreed that the Council would consider upgrading the footpaths in the entire estate if the proposed development proceeds. She also advised that the issues with parking relate predominantly to driver behaviour and that the project makes provision for additional car parking spaces to be provided. Ms. Quinn confirmed that the concerns of the residents have been listened to in so far as possible, however, she advised that the Council has a statutory obligation to provide social housing support for households on the Housing Waiting List. Ms. Quinn outlined that there are currently 46 households on the Housing Waiting List in Ballinamore and that these households are currently contributing to the local economy in the town. She advised that two of the four proposed 2-bed units in the development will be bungalow accommodation to address the housing need of older persons and/or persons with a disability. Ms. Quinn further advised that there is a shortage of bungalow accommodation in the county within the Council’s existing social housing stock.

Ms. Quinn stated that given the two-year timescale for completion of this project the demand for social housing in Ballinamore will most likely increase over the lifetime of the project. She also referred to the rising rent levels currently being experienced by tenants of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) in the private rented sector and the lack of long-term security of tenure for HAP recipients/social housing applicants. Ms. Quinn again re-iterated her recommendation that the Part VIII Planning Proposal be approved by the members in order that the project can proceed to address the social housing need in Ballinamore.

Councillor Barry outlined the difficulty many people have experienced seeking planning permission to build their own homes in Leitrim and he stated that if the Council cannot build houses on a Council estate, then where can they be built. Councillor Barry also stated that many tenants in receipt of HAP are paying top up payments to landlords to enable them to remain in the property.  Councillor Barry noted that several residents in the Lahard Estate purchased their dwellings outright from the Council and that Councillors should not object to the Council providing additional social housing accommodation to meet the housing need and afford future tenants the same opportunity to eventually purchase their dwellings from the Local Authority.

Councillor Paddy O’Rourke stated that increased demand in the housing market had led to greater insecurity for tenants and that with house prices increasing recently that many landlords of private rented accommodation may decide to sell their properties, thus reducing the supply of private rented accommodation to meet housing need. He also expressed concern in relation to the availability of future funding to the Local Authority from Central Government to fund capital projects due to the impact of COVID-19 on Exchequer Funding.

Councillor Caillian Ellis again reiterated that his opposition to the proposed development. He cited the concern of the residents and the level of existing private home ownership within the estate. Councillor Ellis stated that this housing policy is being dictated by Central Government in Dublin and that he needed to take a stance for rural Ireland.

Councillor Ita Reynolds-Flynn supported Councillor Ellis’s comments. She also queried if the 46 households currently on the Housing Waiting List are known to the community in Ballinamore. Ms. Mary Quinn confirmed that the 46 households are currently residing in the local community and that the allocation of the dwellings should the development be approved, will be to the approved households on the Housing Waiting List for Ballinamore.

Councillor Enda McGloin proposed that the Part VIII development be approved, and his proposal was seconded by Councillor Brendan Barry.

As there was a proposal and a counterproposal for this agenda item, the members were informed by Ms. Sinead Flynn, Meetings Administrator that a vote would have to be taken. 

During the discussion on the Part VII Proposal – Councillor Gerry Dolan lost his connection to the meeting. 

Ms. Sinead Flynn made several attempts to contact Councillor Dolan by phone to assist him in reconnecting to the meeting. Ms. Flynn’s attempts to contact Councillor Dolan were unsuccessful and it was agreed that the meeting would proceed to vote on the Part VII Planning Proposal as the Quorum for the meeting was satisfied and in keeping with the Standing Orders for the Ballinamore Municipal District meeting, efforts were made to reconnect with Councillor Dolan.

Ms. Sinead Flynn, Meetings Administrator then proceeded to the taking of the votes on the Part VIII Proposal:

‘To approve the CE’s Report pursuant to Section 179 of the Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended) and Part 8 of the Planning & Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) in respect of the proposed development of 10 social housing dwellings at Lahard, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim.

RESULTS OF THE VOTING SHEET ON THE PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM NO. 2 OF THE BALLINAMORE MUNICIPAL DISTRICT MEETING OF MONDAY 24^TH MAY 2021

*It is recorded in the Voting Sheet, that Councillor Gerry Dolan abstained from voting on the proposal, however, Councillor Dolan was absent from the meeting, as he lost connectivity to the meeting and efforts to contact Councillor Dolan and have him reconnect to the meeting were unsuccessful. As per the Standing Orders, ‘Where a member loses connectivity during a statutory vote, every effort will be made to re-establish a connection’. The meeting minutes record the attempts made by Ms. Flynn to re-establish a connection with Councillor Dolan, however, Councillor Dolan remained absent for the remainder of the meeting.

On concluding the vote on the proposal from the five members of Ballinamore Municipal District present for the vote, Ms. Sinead Flynn, Meetings Administrator, deemed that the proposal ‘To approve the CE’s Report pursuant to Section 179 of the Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended) and Part 8 of the Planning & Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) in respect of the proposed development of 10 social housing dwellings at Lahard, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim’ was approved by a majority of three votes in favour of the proposal verses two votes against the proposal.

It was AGREED that Leitrim County Council proceed with the works in accordance with the approved plans.

Councillor Ita Reynolds-Flynn then proceeded to the next item on the agenda.