€100m scheme to target affordable housing list

A LOCAL authority was praised yesterday for brokering a multi-million euro deal to construct one of the country’s largest ever affordable housing schemes.

Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal, Noel Ahern, turned the sod on the €100 million development in Shanakiel, Cork.

A total of 347 housing units will be built on the site under a three-way partnership between Cork City Council, Coleman Brothers and Fleming Construction.

Coleman Brothers will build 107 private units.

Fleming will build 240 affordable units including two, three and four-bedroom apartments, duplexes and houses, ranging in price from €170,000-€230,000. This is set to put a significant dent on the council’s housing waiting list.

Mr Ahern said: “The ceremony here today marks an important milestone both in the progress on this site and in the commitment that Cork City Council has given to the initiative.

“This development forms part of the overall Affordable Housing Initiative which will result in 10,000 affordable housing units being made available over the coming years through the release of a series of State and Local Authority lands and through Part V arrangements.”

He said partnership was crucial for progressing the Shanakiel scheme.

“The coming together of this scheme shows the benefits of collaboration at a professional level between a number of important players - the council and the developers of course, but also the Health Service Executive, St Anne’s Pitch and Putt Club and the Gleann na Laoi GAA club.

“The goodwill shown by everyone involved has contributed in no small way to bringing this worthwhile initiative from the drawing board to today’s ceremony.”

But Socialist Party Cllr Mick Barry, who is organising a public meeting on the city’s housing crisis, said a lot more was needed.

“The city council needs the equivalent of eight or nine Shanakiels to put a serious dent in the city’s affordable housing lists in the next two years.

“With the price of a modest house now gone over the €300,000 mark, the city’s affordable housing lists are at a record high of 1,129 and rising at a rate of around 50 per month.

“Government ministers can milk the photo opportunities that turning the sod provides but the reality is that the get-out clauses given to developers by the Government on Part V are adding greatly to the affordable housing crisis.”

His public meeting takes place at 8pm on April 6 at the Victoria Hotel, Patrick St.