Clare County Council aims to surpass target for delivery of social housing over next two years
Contracts signed for 92 proposed housing units across six direct build social housing schemes in County Clare
Clare County Council is on track to exceed its target of 302 social housing units under the ‘Housing for All’ plan over the next two years through its own capital projects and by supporting approved housing bodies in their delivery of housing units.
The Council outlined details of housing developments following recent contract signings for the construction and design of 92 proposed housing units across six direct build social housing schemes in County Clare.
Three of these direct build projects are currently at construction stage and will deliver 18 new social housing units in Scarriff, 15 new social housing units in Sixmilebridge and 5 new social housing units in Clarecastle.
The three other direct build projects are now at design stage and are proposed to deliver 25 units in Kilkee, 22 units in Kilrush and 7 units in Ennis.
The six schemes for which contracts have been signed are in addition to five other Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage-approved direct build and buy and renew projects that are currently at design stage and proposed to provide for a further 89 housing units in Ennis, Doonbeg, Ennistymon and Kilrush.
In addition, approved housing bodies in the county are working closely with Clare County Council to deliver Department-approved projects which are proposed to provide for 125 units at locations in Ennis, Kilkishen, Scarriff, Tulla, Kilrush and Westbury.
These figures do not include other pipeline projects yet to be approved by the Department.
Cllr Tony O’Brien, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, said he was encouraged by the progress being made in the delivery of social housing in County Clare: “The addition of these proposed developments will continue the positive progress that has been achieved to date in Clare to address housing need. We have seen a number of quality developments delivered last year and these recent contract signings should build on those efforts.”
Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council, welcomed the contract signings, stating: “The 92 proposed housing units are part of an ambitious programme of delivery across the county and will make a significant contribution to the Council’s efforts to meet the housing need of its applicants. Clare County Council has developed a strong pipeline of new public homes and, with Government support, aims to build on the progress made to date and continue to exceed in the delivery of our targets under Housing for All. We continue to support approved housing bodies in our overall delivery while ensuring that momentum is maintained in identifying and delivering on all opportunities for increasing social housing in County Clare.”
Cllr Gerry Flynn, who chairs the Social Development Strategic Policy Committee in Clare County Council, also welcomed the announcement, saying: “I welcome these recent contract signings for housing developments along with the other pipeline projects currently at design stage. I look forward to seeing their completion and future occupancy.”
Anne Haugh, Director of Social Development, Clare County Council, emphasised the need to view progress through the wider lens of addressing housing need in the county: “While the focus can very often be on the local authority direct build, this is but one stream of delivery in the housing programme with turnkey build, acquisitions, buy and renew, approved housing body build and acquisition, and vacant property refurbishment all additional measures which are co-ordinated, supported and delivered by the Housing team in Clare County Council to provide new homes for those on the social housing list. Over 400 households were allocated properties in 2022 across the various delivery streams and the Council’s pipeline over the coming years aims to ensure housing need continues to be supported through the various channels of delivery.”
Captions:
(1): 3D image of the development in Sixmilebridge, where 15 new social housing units are currently at construction stage.
(2): Photo taken at the contract signing for 18 new social housing units in Scarriff.
(3): Works in progress in Scarriff, where 18 new social housing units are currently at construction stage.
Page last reviewed: 26/04/23
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