Revised plans submitted for 23-home Galway development featuring green space and private terraces
Plans have been lodged for a 23-home residential development in Athenry, Co Galway.
The application, submitted this week by Laurem Construction Ltd, proposes a mix of two-storey houses and duplex units at Knockaunglass, on the outskirts of the town.
The development would comprise six three-bedroom houses and one four-bedroom home forming a row, along with two duplex blocks providing between eight and 10 units each. The duplexes would consist of one- and two-bedroom homes arranged over two floors.
All terraced houses would have private rear open spaces, while the overall scheme includes 36 grouped car parking spaces – including two accessible bays – along with 60 bicycle spaces and 12 visitor parking spaces.
Bin and bicycle storage facilities are planned adjacent to the larger duplex building. The application also provides for landscaped green areas, footpaths and cycle paths, electric vehicle charging points, an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing on the R347 regional road, and associated infrastructural works.
The site is located approximately 500 metres from Athenry town centre and around 1km from Athenry railway station, with a shopping centre and a number of primary and secondary schools nearby.
The proposed development would back onto the Abbey Glen housing estate and is otherwise bordered by undeveloped lands to the north, east and south.
In late 2023, Laurem Construction was granted permission for a 15-house development of a similar style on the same site. However, that decision was appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála, which ultimately refused permission in January 2025. The Board cited concerns over the “underdevelopment of the site” due to poor design, layout and configuration, as well as a lack of meaningful passive surveillance of public open spaces, with particular reference to pedestrian safety.
The current application is described as a revised proposal that addresses the issues raised in the Board’s refusal.
Earlier planning applications for the site, dating back to the early 2000s, were either withdrawn or refused, largely on grounds of scale.
Submissions on the latest application can be made until January 24, 2026, with a decision expected by mid-February.