Record 1,200 new social housing units to be allocated to tenants in Cork county

Cork County Council will construct around 1,380 new homes alone in its southern division next year and in 2026.

A record 1,200 new social housing units will be allocated to tenants in Cork county this year, a major increase on its previous output.

Meanwhile, Cork County Council has reported that it will construct around 1,380 new homes alone in its most populous division (Southern) next year and in 2026.

News of major progress on housing was given to councillors attending the Southern Division. 

It is the most heavily populated of the council’s three divisions with 240,000 people, and it covers a region stretching east to west from Youghal to Ballyvourney and north to south from Millstreet to Kinsale.

“We have allocated 333 new social housing units to people in the first quarter of this year in the whole county and we are on course to allocate a total of 1,200 this year. 

"It is a phenomenal amount. There is great credit to the council’s housing section for this,” Southern Division chairman and Fianna Fáil councillor Seamus McGrath said.

Housing report

A comprehensive report on housing development was delivered to division councillors at a meeting in County Hall by senior official Mac Dara O'Hici.

He outlined many projects which are in the pipeline all over the county. 

Some will be built by the council, while others known as ‘turnkey’ properties will be constructed on the local authority’s behalf by private developers.

The largest turnkey project in the Southern Division will be at Cluan Ard, Cobh.

 The developer is already on site there and will provide the council with 54 new homes.

There are similar projects in Killeagh with 20 and Youghal where two sites will also produce 20 and one site in Carrigtwohill with 19. 

But small villages will also get a few houses, including Mogeely, Knockraha and Whitegate.

Social houses are being built in nearly every village in the county, although the bigger numbers under construction are in the larger towns where the need is greatest.

Mr O'Hici said in the past it had proved difficult for the local authority to get approval for mixed housing schemes of social and affordable houses because the government had been slow to approve them.

He said this has changed and the council is planning to build far more affordable houses in areas where the need for them has been identified.

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The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme helps people on moderate incomes to buy new homes at reduced prices. 

New homes under this scheme are located in areas with the greatest housing need and where affordability is an issue.

The bigger affordable-only schemes are being built at Clonmore, Mallow (95 units), The Miles, Clonakilty (36), Water’s Edge, Carrigaline (32) and there is also a 49-unit development at Cluan Ard, Cobh.

In addition, there are plans for 134 affordable homes at St Joseph’s Road, Mallow; 112 at Commogue, Kinsale and 60 at Kilnagleary, Carrigaline.

The council is also constructing mixed affordable and social housing estates in several other areas.

Mr O'Hici said that more and more affordable houses will come onstream in the next few years.

He added that the council is also providing about 20% of its social housing output to tenants with disabilities and the homes are modified for their specific needs.