Plans for 330 apartments will “radically transform” Knocknacarra

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Plans for the construction of more than 330 apartments – as part of a new ‘rental community’ in Knocknacarra – have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála.

Local area councillors have already requested a meeting with planners at City Hall to discuss the proposals – which one representative has said will “radically change the local environment” if it gets planning approval.

The company behind the development, Glenveagh Living, specialises in building apartments and selling them on to so-called investment ‘cuckoo funds’ for the rental market..

Last July, this newspaper reported that the company intended to develop the lands as part of a “highly attractive development pipeline . . . for the design, development and delivery of rental communities”.

The proposal involves the construction of 93 one-bed, 219 two-bed and 20 three-bed apartments; 11 commercial units (butcher, baker, hair salon etc), a creche for 72 children, as well as a district plaza and residential courtyard.

There will be five blocks in total and 41 of the apartments have been earmarked for transfer to the City Council for use as social housing.

The application indicates the development is part of the company’s PRS (private rental sector) ‘pipeline’, and notes there is an “overarching change” towards renting in the accommodation sector.

Members of the public can make submissions to An Bord Pleanala until January 3 for a fee of €20.

This is a preview only. To read full details on the plans, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week’s paper here, or download the app for Android or iPhone.