O'Flynn Group submits plan for a new British town

Up to 20,000 homes might be built under the plan by the Cork-based property developer after Britain's Ministry of Housing established a New Towns Task Force last year

Michael O'Flynn: Up to 20,000 homes could be built.

The O’Flynn Group, owned by Cork-based property developer Michael O’Flynn, has submitted a plan to the British government to construct a new town in south-east England: 20,000 homes might be built.

In September last year, Britain’s Ministry of Housing established the New Towns Task Force. It is an independent expert advisory panel established to support the government to develop new towns across the country.

As part of the task force’s work, it invited submissions for sites, with the potential for at least 10,000 homes. As of this month, it has had more than 100 responses. London, and southern and eastern areas of England received the largest number of submissions.

According to a report in the Business Post, the O’Flynn Group has entered into a partnership with Irish businessman John Magnier to develop a 4,200-acre plot of land in Hampshire, which Mr Magnier bought in 2017 for a reported €52m.

The plan for the project was submitted to the British government in December last year and included provision for 40% affordable housing. The proposal for the town would see between 15,000 and 20,000 homes built on Mr Magnier’s land, the report said.

There have been plans to develop the land going back years.

Under previous O’Flynn Group plans, up to 6,000 homes were to be built on the site, with space for businesses, schools, and a main town centre.

Local opposition

However, there has been local opposition to plans to develop the site.

The New Towns Taskforce is expected to submit a final report by the summer and this will include a list of places new towns could potentially be located.

During an event last week held by Property Industry Ireland on the Housing Commission report, Mr O’Flynn said Britain, and the Labour government, are a “breath of fresh air” as they are facing up to the fact that there is an undersupply in housing across the country.

Meanwhile, he criticised the Irish Government’s lack of action on the commission’s report, which was released last year.

Mr O’Flynn did acknowledge that he has a number of business interests in Britain.