LANDS SURROUNDING one of Roscommon’s most famous landmarks, Clonalis House in Castlerea, are being earmarked for a major housing development.

Pyers O’ Conor Nash has applied to Roscommon County Council for planning permission for a development of thirty nine houses consisting of 16 two storey, four bed houses, 13 dormer bungalows, four bed houses, six semi detached, two storey, three bed houses and four semi detached single storey, two bed houses at Clonalis, Arm, Castlerea.

The planning application, which was received by Roscommon County Council on December, 21st, also seeks planning permission for a new access road from the Ballyhaunis road adjacent to St Joseph’s Cemetery.

The proposed development takes in some 5,262.5 square metres on a site of some 2.75 hectares. The applicant, Pyers O’ Conor Nash stated in the application that the land was in family ownership for approximately 1,500 years and was existing agricultural land. The development is proposed for lands adjacent to St Joseph’s Cemetery, church and golf course. At the time of going to press the file had not been validated by Roscommon County Council.

This application is one of hundreds currently before Roscommon County Council as the deadline looms for the Rural Renewal Scheme, sparking off an unprecedented number of planning applications in recent weeks. One of the single largest planning applications before the council concerns proposals for 401 houses at Ballingard on the Galway road in Roscommon town. Taggart Homes are seeking planning permission, through AOL Design Ltd Consulting Engineers, for 14 detached two storey houses with garages, 27 detached two storey houses, 48 four bedroom semi-detached two storey houses, 136 three bedroom semi-detached two storey houses, 108 townhouses consisting of two and three bedroom units, 11 detached dormer houses, 10 semi detached dormer houses and seven four bedroom bungalows. The major development also includes plans for 40 two bedroom bungalows for social housing as well as a creche and a shop with car parking. Meanwhile also in Roscommon town planning permission has been granted to knock a two storey fast food restaurant and coffee shop at Ballypheason Td, Castle Street, Roscommon to make way for a three storey building consisting of seven retail units, eight apartments and office space. At Fearagh, Ballymurray just outside Roscommon town, PJ Gannon and Edward Spellman have applied for planning permission to build a holiday village made up of some 37 houses along with a single storey reception building.

In other proposed developments within the region, James Reynolds has applied for planning permission for a mixed use riverside tourist development consisting of four retail units, a bar, restaurant and guest house, six fishing cabins and residential accommodation consisting of 18 three bedroom terrace dwellings, four, three bedroom detached buildings, four, four bedroom detached houses and one five bedroom detached house with riverside mooring in Rooskey.

In the Frenchpark Demesne area, John Hanily has applied for planning permission for a two storey 26 bed hotel with a bar and restaurant, meeting and function rooms as well as six two bed apartments, thirty houses, three ground floor commercial units, a retail unit with a three bay fuel pumping station and carwash area.

Archill Properties Ltd have sought planning permission for a 32 apart hotel/ hotel suites made up of 28 two bedroom and four one bedroom units as well as 14 ensuite bedrooms, a banqueting room, meeting room and other works.