Mayo councillor laments “another bad month for housing”

A Mayo elected representative has hit out at “another bad month for housing in Westport.”

Councillor Peter Flynn made his comments following the announcement that a plan to construct 38 houses by local developers Brendan Byrne & Son Ltd. at Carrowbaun, Westport, has been rejected by An Bord Pleanála.

The project has been given the green light by Mayo County Council.

Councillor Peter Flynn said the ruling comes after confirmation from Mayo County Council's head of housing of an absence of progress on an affordable housing scheme in Westport and that the proposed 50 houses on the Golf Course Road have stalled.

He stated: “Ironically one of the reasons for the refusal of the planning application in Carrowbaun was the low density and the lack of a mix in the scheme.

“The council approved 38 houses which is 10 house's per hectare but under the "Sustainable Residential Development Guidelines" and the National Planning Framework the minimum number recommended is 30 houses per hectare.

“Also under these guidelines developments of this type should have a variety of house types so you encourage a mix of residents and intergenerational living.

“Well you might ask how did the applicant and the planners not adhere to these guidelines/regulations - but the reality is that the Mayo Development Plan is now 10 years old and reflects a completely different view of planning and sustainable living than today.

“The updating of the development plan has been stalled by a small number of councillors who prefer to give the impression that they can overrule national policy and ignore planning frameworks which is clearly not the case.”

Councillor Flynn said it was abundantly clear at last week's meeting of the West Mayo Municipal District that no progress had been made on the provision of any affordable housing scheme in Westport or indeed in any part of Mayo any time in the near future.

“KPMG have apparently been commissioned to complete a report to let us all know we may or may not have a housing affordability issue! The absence of progress on this critical issue is galling.”

Councillor Flynn made his remarks on his Facebook page.