The Land Development Agency (LDA ) has lodged a planning application for 356 new cost rental and social homes in the inner harbour at Galway Port.
The homes at Amharc Atalia are proposed to be developed on land being transferred to the Agency by Galway Harbour Company (GHC ).
The proposed LDA development will include 172 one-bed, 169 two-bed and 15 three-bed apartments across four blocks ranging from six to 13 storeys. The plans, which have been submitted to Galway City Council, also include a new public plaza, a landscaped coastal walking path, communal gardens, play areas, retail units and a creche. Subject to planning approval, construction is scheduled to commence in Q4 2027.
Ideally situated on the waterfront at the Galway inner harbour, the proposed development would provide much-needed cost rental and social housing in a location that is less than a 10-minute walk from the city centre.
The housing would also be conveniently located near primary and secondary schools, the University of Galway, University Hospital Galway, and Eyre Square, all of which are accessible via existing bus routes. A provision for bicycle and car park spaces at surface level is also included in the plans.
A finalised masterplan for the redevelopment of the entire inner harbour lands was submitted with the planning application and was prepared by Scott Tallon Walker Architects for the Port of Galway.
It includes wider proposals to develop the area into a new sustainable and mixed-use city centre urban quarter.
The LDA’s planning application follows a public consultation process on both the wider masterplan and Amharc Atalia, which was launched by the LDA and GHC in May of this year.
Phelim O’Neill, Director of Development at the Land Development Agency said the submission of this planning application represents another significant milestone for LDA housing delivery in Galway.
“If approved, this impressive development will provide high quality, waterfront apartments in the heart of the city, in line with the LDA’s focus on delivering the right homes in the right places.
“I’d like to thank Galway Harbour Company and Galway City Council for helping us progress this important development,” he said.
Conor O’Dowd, Chief Executive of Galway Harbour Company said he is pleased to welcome this positive development, which underlines the progress we are making in our plans to transform Galway Harbour.
“We are working to deliver a new and sustainable quarter in Galway City and it is vital that this includes new housing, in addition to commercial outlets, recreational and cultural facilities along the water’s edge.
“I’d like to thank the LDA for working with us on this ambitious project and for proposing a high-quality development in what is going to be a wonderful location.”
The Amharc Atalia planning application is the LDA’s second planned Direct Delivery development in Galway. Earlier this year, the Agency lodged plans for 219 cost rental and affordable homes at Corrib Causeway, on the Dyke Road, in partnership with Galway City Council.
The LDA is also delivering 345 new apartments at Crown Square under its Project Tosaigh initiative. The new homes are being constructed by JJ Rhatigan & Company and include 86 one-beds, 240 two-beds and 19 three-beds.
The Agency also has a longer-term plan to transform land surrounding Sandy Road into a new urban quarter with the potential for 750 new homes.
The Land Development Agency (LDA ) is the State’s affordable housing delivery body. Its main role is to acquire and develop State and other land to deliver affordable homes to address the country’s housing need.
The Agency has commenced construction on various state sourced and privately acquired land and has a delivery pipeline in excess of 25,000 homes through its direct delivery and homebuilder partnership channels.
Additionally, the LDA undertakes work on large-scale longer-term strategic areas by master-planning and bringing forward planning applications in locations such as Limerick Colbert Quarter, the Digital Hub in Dublin and Sandy Road in Galway.
The LDA is also responsible for a range of public functions including research, master planning and the development of construction guidelines and best practices. The LDA has produced and now regularly updates the Report on Relevant Public Land, which identified 102 State owned sites with the potential for 70,830 homes.
