Families move into new homes after planning hurdle cleared

From the Galway City Tribune – A ‘minor’ planning compliance issue, which prevented 16 families from moving into their new homes in Knocknacarra before Christmas, has been resolved.

Residents were due to move into 16 units at Gleann na Mona off the Western Distributor Road in Galway last August and September.

But a minor planning compliance issue had delayed the transfer of the homes from Galway City Council to Clúid, an approved housing body which is managing the units on behalf of the local authority.

The Council would not sign off on transfer of the properties to Clúid until the planning issue was settled. This meant tenants due to move into the homes were left in limbo for months.

The matter was raised at this Monday’s Galway City Council meeting by former mayor, Councillor Donal Lyons (Ind).

Chief Executive of the Council, Brendan McGrath agreed with Cllr Lyons that the outstanding planning issue was a minor one but planning compliance was required to progress the issue.

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“We appreciate the urgency of getting tenants into those houses . . . planning consent is required . . . it is not the most serious issue, but it is holding up compliance,” Mr McGrath said.

Speaking to the Galway City Tribune on Tuesday, Cllr Lyons said it was confirmed to him after the meeting that the issue had been resolved.

“This is a good news story that the families can finally move in. They had been told since August and September that they would get the keys to their new homes but it was delayed by a minor planning compliance issue. I have been told that this is now resolved, and they moved in between Christmas and now,” said Cllr Lyons, chairman of Council’s Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).

(Photo: The new Gleann na Móna development off the Blake (Ballymoneen) roundabout in Knocknacarra).