Homes schemes approved

HUNDREDS of new affordable homes will be built on Cork’s northside after decisions by the city council on three separate housing projects last night.

Councillors cleared the way for the Part 8 projects - one in Shanakiel and two in Gurranabraher - to proceed despite some concerns about housing density, traffic and levels of consultation with residents.

The Shanakiel project off the Blarney road is worth over €100m and will deliver more than 240 affordable homes, including two, three and four-bedroomed houses, duplexes and apartments.

Cllr Dave McCarthy welcomed the decisions but criticised some councillors who tried to delay the projects to allow for more consultation. “We’re being inundated with requests from people for houses. Have ye not got the guts to vote for these?” he asked.

There are almost 1,000 people on the city’s affordable housing waiting list.

John Fleming Construction and Coleman Brothers, in partnership with the council, can now proceed with their plans to build a total of 347 dwellings on the Shanakiel site.

The Chapel Field in Gurranabraher will be redeveloped by Deermount Construction.

Twenty-five three-bed houses, 17 four-bed houses and six two-bed townhouses will be built on the site behind the Church of the Ascension. The homes will be sold privately.

City manager Joe Gavin said this project would help restore the socio-economic balance in an area traditionally associated with council housing.

And more than 60 dwellings will be built by John F Supple and Montgomery Kenneally Partnership on Bantry Park road.