New housing developments in Pollard and Delvin

Planning permission has been granted for a major new expansion of a housing development in Castlepollard. The successful application by Bigwood Properties Ltd includes details for the construction of 45 houses (37 three-bed and eight two-bed), three apartments, and a crèche on a site to the rear of the Kingscourt estate.

According to the cover letter submitted with the application, the Bigwood Properties directors are husband and wife James and Teresa Coffey, owners of the Castle Varagh Hotel in the town. Whitehall native James is also the founder and chairman of the J Coffey Group, a major construction firm based in London.

James started the J Coffey Group in 1991, and it has since grown into one of the top construction players in Greater London and the southeast of the UK, winning contracts for major works at Battersea Power Station. In Ireland, the firm secured the concrete, civil, and groundworks package for Facebook’s futuristic data centre at Clonee, County Meath. Today, the firm employs around 1,200 people between the UK and Ireland.

Last year, the couple were granted the Freedom of the City of London in recognition of their achievements in the world of construction and charity work.

Delvin Development

Planning was also recently granted for the expansion of the Cluain Lorcain estate in Delvin. The application by Mulleady Properties includes details for the construction of 24 houses, comprising two one-beds, 12 two-beds, and eight three-bed houses.

Local councillor David Jones welcomed the council decision to give the development the green light. The Sinn Féin representative said that the new houses are much needed in the village.