Ten Year Returns in Longford of 216%

A new report from Permanent TSB/ESRI shows Longford house prices have increased 271% since 1996. The average price in 1996 was €67,986 and to day is €214,527. Prices nationwide have increased 14.9% annually in the last ten years. Despite the increase in prices, affordability of houses has remained steady since 1998 as incomes have kept pace with inflation. Another change in our area is the average increase in house sizes from 1,200 sq. ft. in 1996 to over 1,400 today. The full report is available at the Permanent website.

New Shopping Centre Opens

Friday sees the official launch of Longford's newest shopping centre. Supervalu are the anchor tenant and there will be several other stores on the lower level. The site has ample parking and easy access of the N63.

Edgeworthstown bypass is opened

A 3km stretch of road bypassing Edgeworthstown in Co Longford has been opened.
The new road, which cost almost €15 million to construct, took just over one year to complete. It was opened today at 2pm by Minister of State at the Department of Environment and Local Government Pat the Cope Gallagher. The new road is expected to result in a 70% reduction in traffic passing through the town.

High Rise Hotel for Longford

An 11 storey 96-bed hotel is part of a new development which received the go ahead from An Bord Pleanala. This will be the tallest building in the county and will change the local skyline dramatically. The new Gateway Business Park comprising of offices, retail warehouse units, hotel, Gateway Pavillion (including restaurant/cafe, terraced townhouses, 17 three bedroom duplex townhouses and 17 two bedroom groundfloor townhouses), creche and playschool, drive-thru fast food restaurant, car showrooms and service station. Parking will be available for 1200 cars. There will be access from both the Red Cow and the Ballinalee roundabout. Planning had previously been granted for the 21 acre site by both Longford County and Town Councils but objections had been raised to the planning board and permission was granted with reduced retail space. Murray O'Laoire Architects, who are redesigning Athlone town centre, did the design work.

AIB Predicts Growth of 12% for house prices in 2006

AIB says that house prices will rise by at least 12 per cent this year but the market is giving mixed signals about future activity. Housing starts have slowed down with less houses likely to be built this year. The bank's June housing market bulletin states that while current activity remains buoyant, registration and commencement data paint a murkier picture about the strength of activity in the opening months of 2006.

Download report.

Big Changes for Water St.

Demolition has started on Greater Water St. New apartments and retail units will replace the old buildings being torn down.

Launch of new energy efficient houses in Ballymahon

Ballymahon has gone green with a new development featuring solar panels and wood pellet boilers. Heating costs should be 40% less than oil and carbon pollution is greatly reduced. The houses are three and four bedroom detached and semi-detached. They are located just of Main St. along the banks of the river Inny. RE/MAX are the agents and the developer is Bespoke Construction from Athlone.

The popular Courtyard Restaurant is Expanding

The Courtyard has nearly doubled in size with their extension opening this week. A bakery is also in the works and should open soon.
Yes, it really is that sunny in Longford today.

Retail is on a roll in Longford Town

Two new shops opened up this week and both are franchises. The first is Tally Weijl, on main Street, a Swiss fashion shop which means "Totally Sexy" in English and is extremely popular in Europe with over one hundred stores in operation. This chain can be found in Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Poland, England, Russia and France. They already have stores in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Maynooth. This very popular Swiss company offers Longford shoppers fashionable clothing at affordable prices. There will now be no excuse for Longford women on a Saturday night

Easons have opened their bookshop and newsagents on Ballymahon Street.