€4million site sale to aid Letterkenny's housing crisis

The sale of a major site in Letterkenny for housing has been welcomed as a possible solution to the town’s housing crisis.

The 8.23 acre site in Letterkenny town centre has been sold for a cool €4 million.

A deal was finalised recently for the land, which is centrally located at the top of High Road, behind Leterkenny Fire Station.

The buyer has not been identified, but it is believed that they are from Donegal and plan to develop the land into housing.

In 2004, planning permission for six retail units, 190 apartments, 17 duplex units and 18 townhouses was granted. It has been indicated that planning for a massively increased development will now be sought and be achievable.

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“As we are all aware we are in a major housing crisis and have been for some time now so these houses should hopefully help elevate this major issue,” the Mayor of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District, Councillor Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly told Donegal Live.

“This site is in a fantastic location for social housing. It is within walking distance of the town centre, the hospital and the shopping centres.

“It's great news for Letterkenny town and it’s something I have been pushing hard for since I took my seat. With the cost of rent at the moment and the shortage of housing its shocking people just can't afford it these extra houses can't come soon enough.”

At the last count, there were 1,141 applicants on the social housing waiting list in the Letterkenny-Milford MD with 894 of those in Letterkenny. As of April 3, there were 632 applicants accommodated with HAP assistance, but who have opted to remain on the Council’s social housing list and 122 tenants accommodated in Council social housing approved for transfer.

Councillor Kelly said: The amount of people on the housing list is growing all the time and there just simply isn't enough houses available so I'm delighted to welcome this news.

“Although we still need more houses to be built this is definitely a step in the right direction.”

The site owner, Mr Jim Rodgers of Lismonaghan and his two sons Paul and Mark. Mr Rodgers purchased the site in question as an investment.

The site, the sale of which was closed by DNG Boyce Gallagher, is zoned as ‘established development/mixed usage’ in the County Development Plan 2018-2024 and affords a range of opportunities.

It is the latest news of major development for Letterkenny.

Late last year, details emerged of plans for one of the biggest developments ever in Donegal with news of the planned construction of six-storey and four-storey buildings that will include 154 student bedrooms and 13 apartments near the Station Roundabout.

In recent weeks, planning permission has been sought for 26 houses at Woodpark, six additional houses at Cruach Na Cille and 21 at Gleann Rua.

There are also plans for a further nine residential units at Killylastin while a recent submission for the development of 82 houses and eight apartments at Glencar Irish and Glencar Scotch is subject to an appeal.

The wheels are also in motion for 34 social housing units at Oran Hill, Kilmacrennan Road, Leterkenny and 11 units in Killylastin.