Cork council to create ‘step down’ housing projects for elderly and infirm residents

As well as building social housing to keep the elderly in the community, it would also free up larger houses for young families

'It’s a great opportunity for older single people to move out of larger homes to new ones which will be much better.' File picture: Denis Minihane

A number of ‘step down’ housing projects for elderly and infirm residents in social housing are to be created in Co Cork to keep them living in the community for longer.

Cork County Council has announced it has chosen one pilot project to start in Cobh and is looking at several other areas where they'll be developed.

The announcement was made at a meeting of the council’s Southern Division by Keith Jones, the head of the local authority’s housing directorate.

The council is trying to identify either new build projects or renovations of buildings in town centres, primarily on flat ground, where older people will have ease of access to shops, medical facilities, and churches.

The project has a two-pronged aim as it would also free up larger houses for young families. It is primarily aimed at older singles and couples in houses where their children have grown up and left home, leaving rooms unoccupied. 

Many older couples also find it hard to maintain larger houses and if outside a town centre, they want to move into its core.

Fianna Fáil councillor Gobnait Moynihan asked for more details on the project.

Mr Jones said the council’s Housing Special Purposes Committee (SPC) is drawing up a policy for such future step-down facilities and “a number of pilot projects” although he didn’t identify exactly where they would be located, apart from the one in Cobh. 

It is believed another of the first tranche of such projects will be in Youghal.

Independent councillor Ger Curley, who lives just 200 metres from the proposed development at Hartland’s Point on the eastern end of Cobh town, said the 12 units there will be designed for single people.

“It’s a great opportunity for older single people to move out of larger homes to new ones which will be much better. It’s being built on council-owned land and it is near to everything they will need,” Mr Curley said.

Watergrasshill project

However, Fianna Fáil councillor Sheila O’Callaghan got some negative feedback from Mr Jones about a previously planned affordable housing project in her home village of Watergrasshill.

She was told that the 39 units at The Willows, in Bishop’s Island, one the southern side of the village, won't now go ahead as the developer, who was supposed to be building the houses for the council, has pulled out of the project.

Mr Jones said the council is in constant contact with developers to pursue such projects throughout the county.