A: The Land Development Agency (LDA), in partnership with Galway City Council, is seeking to deliver a range of housing types, community amenities and commercial uses on this brownfield site, prioritising cost rental and social homes with the objective of creating a new, sustainable and vibrant urban quarter within a 20 minute walk from Eyre Square. The vision of the Sandy Quarter project is to be realised through the creation of a Spatial Framework.

A: The Spatial Framework is a planning document that establishes a vision for Sandy Quarter. It contains principles to guide the site’s future development aligning with key objectives and policies contained within the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029. It also supports and aligns with Galway’s housing delivery strategy to prioritise compact urban growth and optimise brownfield land within the city centre core.

Q:  What is the site size and where is it located?

A: This 10 hectare (24.5 acres) site is located north-west of Galway City Centre and dissected by Sandy Road. Seán Mulvoy Road bounds the site to the south and Liosbán Industrial Estate is adjacent to the site to the north. A portion of the Terryland River Park flows through the north-eastern corner of the site.

A: The site is currently occupied by a number of existing uses, such as Council and ESB Depots, storage, car parking and scrubland. It is owned by a combination of state organisations and private landowners.

A: Part of site has already been identified for transfer to the LDA under the Government’s Housing for All Plan . The LDA is working collaboratively with the all the landowning partners to provide affordable homes and address the current housing crisis in Ireland. This will be realised by assisting with the relocation of the existing depots and other uses onto alternative locations off site in order to accommodate the future development.

The redevelopment will be led by the LDA, in partnership with Galway City Council. Opportunities for collaboration with other interested parties will occur during the planning and construction processes.

A: Up to 750 new homes could be built once the site is completed. A mix of unit sizes for individuals and families will be provided and will include a range of tenures- social, cost rental, and private as well as units that are wheel-chair accessible and age-friendly.

A: Cost rental is a new housing tenure that was created under the Affordable Housing Act 2021. It is aimed at people and families who are above the threshold to qualify for social housing but have difficulty affording private rented accommodation. Cost rental offers a long-term secure tenancy that is below the typical market rent. The LDA is working to achieve rents that are affordable and are costing below the average local area rental market rates.

To be eligible for consideration for cost rental Housing, you must meet the following criteria:

• Your net household income is below €53,000 per annum.
• You are not in receipt of any social housing supports (including Rent Supplement or HAP)
• You do not own a property
• Your household size matches the size of the property advertised (All members of the     household must be living in Ireland at time of applying.
• You can afford to pay the cost rent for the home. Please see FAQs below for further information.
• Your household has only entered one application for a specific cost rental property

Further information and updates on how to apply for LDA-owned cost rental homes available at: LDA Cost Rental - lda

A: The project is currently in the initial strategic planning stage. The Sandy Quarter Spatial Framework will be finalised in Summer 2023 following this period of consultation and engagement, and this will include a vision of the site’s phasing (what area of the site will be identified for development first and what areas are to follow).

The LDA’s intention is to submit planning applications, following this public consultation process. Phased construction is expected to commence subject to planning application approval timelines and will be a multi-year process.

There are many ways for you to provide feedback on the project. The Spatial Framework and planning documents outlining the vision for the development of The Sandy Quarter is now available to review at the project website www.thesandyquarter.ie.   

LDA staff comprising of a Community Liaison Officer and Planning Staff will also be in Galway to engage with various interest groups and stakeholders throughout the consultation period.

We will be holding meeting with stakeholders and public drop-in sessions from April 3rd to 12th May, 2023 at the Maldron Hotel, Sandy Road. Please consult the project website and LDA Twitter  or updates and LDA throughout.

If you are unable to make a public session or want to contact us in writing or over the phone, you can

Email us at: community@thesandyquarter.ie

 Or

Write to us at:

The Sandy Quarter Project

 The Land Development Agency

The Portershed, 15 Market Street, Galway, H91 TCX3

or

Call us at: +353 (091) 534662

We look forward to receiving your comments and feedback on The Sandy Quarter proposal!

The current condition of the site is that of a brownfield site, characterised by industrial uses, hardstanding and a lack of quality useable green space and biodiversity. A sustainability-led approach is central to the design and planning process for this project and will be incorporated in the following ways:

• Biodiversity Net Gain standards exceeded on site to combat climate change + biodiversity loss
• Green buildings- including solar panels, green roofs to support nature and slow rainwater on site
• New walking and cycling routes and facilities throughout to encourage sustainable modes of travel within the site, along the river and link to the Galway City Centre along with the reduction in car parking to reduce the site’s carbon footprint.
• Green infrastructure thorough the provision of a new “Cotton Park” on site, new landscaping and tree planting
• Blue infrastructure through the provision of new raingardens and permeable paving to manage drainage and mitigate flood risks.

A: In line with the Galway City Development Plan, one of the key design moves for the site will be the realignment of the Sandy Road to create a new junction with Seán Mulvoy Road. This will provide for safer access for all road users and in particular pedestrians and cyclists. The new Sandy Road will be designed in accordance with DMURS (Design manual for Urban Roads and Streets) with the development of Sandy Road as a Local Street, giving greater scope to promote lower vehicular speeds and making it less attractive to through traffic. Sustainable transport routes will be created through the site that will link up with wider walking, cycling and public transport networks into the city aligning with the Galway Transport Strategy.

A: The new development is very well located with easy access onto the N6 National Primary Road and the N84 Headford Road at Kirwan and will also have a new access onto the Regional Road R336 Seán Mulvoy Road. The design philosophy which is underpinned by the City Development Plan and the Galway Transport Strategy, will be towards a sustainable city development where future residents will be less reliant on a car as a mode of travel, with good local walking, cycling and public transport connections to places of work, education, and services.

The planning applications(s) which will be submitted for the site will  be supported by appropriate transportation studies which assess the impact that the proposed new development will have on the existing road network. Reduced parking in favour of improved sustainable routes for cycling, walking, and rolling routes on site, and connecting with the wider city network will be included in the design. This will reduce the number of vehicles on the site and reduce the number of additional vehicles on the surrounding road network.