Galway village housing and retail proposal axed amid overdevelopment and road safety concerns
Planning permission for a residential and retail development in Moycullen has been refused, with Galway County Council citing concerns over overdevelopment and road safety.
The application, submitted by Limekin Construction, sought permission for 25 residential units and three retail spaces on a site just off the Clifden Road.
The proposed development consisted of three three-storey to five-storey residential blocks, each containing apartments and duplex units. In addition, block B was to include three retail units, alongside more than 100 bicycle parking spaces and 25 car parking spaces.
The site currently contains three derelict structures, including a former vehicle repair garage. The application proposed the demolition of these buildings prior to the construction of the new residential blocks.
Planning permission for a similar development on the same site and from the same applicant was previously sought and refused in 2022, following a review of multiple submissions.
A submission from Killarinny residents raised concerns about the absence of an Environmental Impact Assessment, despite allegations of previous contamination from oil tanks that reportedly forced former residents to vacate the property. It also highlighted what they described as a failure by Limekin Construction to disclose how contaminated waste would be managed, noting that the site adjoins Killarinny Woods.
The most recent application, submitted in February 2025, received one submission, from Conradh na Gaeilge. The organisation argued that, as the site is located within the Gaeltacht and Galway County Council recognises Gaeltacht areas in its County Development Plan, there is an obligation to prioritise the Irish language in the development.
Conradh na Gaeilge called for a specified number of units to be reserved for Irish-language speakers and for a language assessment to be carried out for each unit, demonstrating a positive impact on the Irish language within the local community, with proficiency at B2 level or higher. The group also requested that all signage associated with the development be in Irish only.
Galway County Council outlined three reasons for refusing permission, all relating to what it described as the overdevelopment of the western edge of Moycullen. These included concerns around traffic flow, congestion, and road safety.
Limekin Construction has four weeks to submit an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála.