Council pleas for land for houses

A PLEA has gone out to landowners in north Cork to help Cork County Council get land to build local authority homes.

The request was made at the council’s northern division meeting in Mallow yesterday, after it emerged that approximately 1,000 people are on the housing waiting list.

Acting assistant county manager Tom Stritch said he was “concerned” about the level of council-owned landbanks in the region and specified there was a need to focus on 21 towns and villages which were earmarked for growth.

“I’m asking members to identify suitable sites. Local knowledge will be a huge help,” Mr Stritch said.

Senior executive officer Ger Cotter said that over the next few months officials would be drawing up an up-to-date list of those needing housing, but added that he believed it would be in the region of 1,000. This is being done as part of a general housing action plan for the next five years.