Cork County Council to 'ramp-up' building of social and affordable homes this year

Council aims to build at least 697 social houses all over the county in 2026, with nearly every town and village in the mix

The council is expected to spend millions of euro on acquiring land from private landowners as well as utilising its own existing landbanks for new housing developments. File picture: Dan Linehan

The head of Cork County Council’s housing directorate has promised there will be a major "ramp-up" in home building in the region during the next 12 months.

The council is expected to spend millions of euro on acquiring land from private landowners as well as utilising its own existing landbanks for new housing developments.

In addition, it is engaging more with private developers and voluntary housing agencies to build joint projects across the region.

Housing directorate Keith Jones said the council had ambitious plans to exceed Government targets across the board for social, affordable and cost-rental schemes.

Mr Jones said a dedicated team of staff had already been working behind the scenes for some time to ensure a wide range of new housing would be delivered in the coming years, which will not just focus on larger towns but villages as well.

“We hope to grow our land portfolio to exceed targets. There is significant work under way on land purchases and to acquire private properties,” Mr Jones said.

The council has a target of building at least 697 social houses all over the county in 2026, with nearly every town and village in the mix.

In his report to councillors, Mr Jones said a total of 277 affordable houses were already in the pipeline for construction in 2026, and more are expected to follow.

The largest number of them, 131, are set to be built at St Joseph’s Road, Mallow, with 112 at Cammogue, Kinsale, and a further 31 as part of the second phase of an affordable housing development at Beechgrove, Clonakilty.

“The council is progressing a number of affordable housing schemes throughout the county. These schemes are being delivered via developers and on council-owned lands and are at various stages in the design, planning and construction process. The council is continuing to engage with developers regarding further future affordable schemes,” Mr Jones said.

He signalled that while the construction of social housing would remain a key focus for the council, it understands the increased demand for subsidised affordable and cost-rental schemes.

Mr Jones reported that 150 people applied for 49 now allocated affordable houses at Cluain Ard, Cobh, and there were 111 applications for 23 similar homes at Baile Adaim, Carrigtwohill.

There were 89 applicants for 12 houses at Meadowlands, Macroom, and 82 applications for 13 of them at The Fairways, Midleton.

Affordable homes are designed for people who earn too much to qualify for social housing but too little to get a mortgage from a financial institution to enable them bid on the open market.

Mr Jones told Fine Gael councillor Anthony Barry 30% of these houses have to be allocated to local applicants. While the remainder can be given to anybody living anywhere else in the country.

The demand for cost-rental homes was even greater and he gave a few examples, one of which was a scheme of 10 houses, which included nine three-bed homes, again at The Fairways, Midleton.

There were 199 applications for them. All homes are now occupied and the tenants pay just €1,380 per month for the three-bed houses.