Cap on one-off housing will damage rural Galway
Sporting clubs and communities across the county face an uncertain future unless there is an easing of the cap on one-off rural housing over the next six years.
The recent County Development Plan 2022 to 2028 decided to limit the number of new one-off houses to 911 – but one local Councillor, Joe Byrne, predicted that, given the volume of applications before planners, this number could be reached after year two.
There has been a growing emphasis by senior officials in developing town and village centres which is the cause of much concern among rural communities who fear for the future.
Even rural clubs such as Corofin in football, and hurling strongholds like Castlegar or Sarsfields face the prospect of diminishing numbers if the restriction on one-off planning becomes a reality.
According to Cllr Byrne, if the limit of 911 stands over the six-year period of the plan, then rural Galway is facing a bleak future.
The Kinvara-based construction management consultant is of the belief that there is more of a focus on ‘flocking’ people into town and rural villages than encouraging first time house occupiers to build out the country.
Projections suggest that almost 630 one-off houses are required in County Galway on an annual basis to meet the demand – this means that the cap would be met inside two years.
It would also provide Galway County Council’s planning department the power to refuse applications until the next development plan kicks-in in 2029.
“A lot of rural areas could be decimated by then,” observed Cllr Byrne.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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