BY C.J. MCGINLEY
PLANS for a ¤100 million housing development in Letterkenny are due to be lodged with the Town Council.
It was confirmed yesterday (Thursday) the plans for 424 residential units on a site over 50 acres at Windyhall are expected to be with the local authority next week. The applicant is JG Fleming and the development consists of 162 apartments, 59 detached dwellings, 84 duplex apartments, 107 semi-detached units and twelve townhouses.
Planning permission is also being sought for a creche. The land used to belong to the late Sam Fleming. It commands a panoramic view overlooking Letterkenny, occupying a large landbank between the old Windyhall Road and Manor View on the Long Lane. A new road to facilitate the development would be made to run through the site which would be accessed from the Pramerica roundabout on the Kilmacrennan Road.
A firm of Belfast based architects have been hired to submit the plans. Speaking yesterday Town Clerk, Mr Paddy Doherty said he had not received the plans but had been in brief contact with a representative from the architects.
"I have spoken to an architect and we expect the plans will be with us by early next week," Mr Doherty.
Meanwhile, infrastructural works are finishing on another huge housing development in the Ballymacool area of the town. Derry based firm McWilliams plan to build more than 300 houses on the former Ballymacool estate. Earlier this year plans emerged for over 1,000 houses at Scribley on the Leck Road.
The developer is former town councillor Mr Laurence Blake. He is still finalising a masterplan for the huge development on 126 acres of land that he purchased in November 2005 for around ¤23 million. Taking an average of ¤200,000 per house the houses could be sold for as much as ¤200 million on current market valuations.
The plan includes shops and a new school while it also opens up the prospect of a new bridge across the River Swilly. Effectively the development makes for a new town on the southern side of the Swilly. MacGabhann Architects are preparing the masterplan.
There are plans for a further 211 residential units at Scribley. Carn Properties Ltd have a 30 acre site and they are seeking to build 211 units comprising of four apartment blocks, 59 detached houses, 132 semi-detached houses and 42 domestic garages. The site was sold three years ago by Laurence Blake.
