Mayo site identified by LDA for major affordable housing project

The Land Development Agency, the state's affordable housing delivery body, has identified a site in Mayo suitable for the construction of between 190 and 280 homes.

The site is located within close proximity of St. Patrick's Church at McDermott Street in Ballina.

The lands, consisting of over six hectares, are owned by Mayo County Council and is currently zoned as infrastructure and utility.

Dearbhla Lawson of the LDA described it was a 'moderately constrained site with potential for between 190 to 280 houses.'

She continued: "There may be other sites that the local authority has, but this one has been shortlisted out of a longer process.

"There are probably other infill sites available (in Ballina) and I am happy to take that up with the council."

Ms. Lawson was responding to a question raised by Senator Mark Duffy at a meeting of Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing.

The Fine Gael representative welcomed the positive response which, he said, 'can make a significant impact on delivering homes in Mayo'.

In regard to other sites that may be available, he suggested the former Mineral Water factory site in the town which had been earmarked some years ago by Tesco for a new supermarket, but the proposal did not proceed.