THUMBS UP FOR NEW MALLOW SOCIAL HOUSING SCHEME
COUNCIL NOW SET TO SEEK PART 8 PLANNING FOR 10-UNIT DEVELOPMENT
A PLAN by Cork County Council to build ten new social housing units on the site of a disused quarry at Forest View, Mallow, has passed its first hurdle after being given the green light to go forward for Part 8 planning permission.
Councillors at the July Kanturk/Mallow district committee were given a full appraisal of the scheme by senior housing engineer Keith Jones, who said he would return later on in the year with a full recommendation to go before full council for approval.
The scheme will consist of four one-bed units and six two-bed units, incorporating dedicated ‘wet rooms’, and will be surrounded by a landscaped green area.
Mr Jones pointed out there were currently more than 500 approved applicants on the housing waiting list in Mallow, a number that was expected to rise before the end of the year.
“Demand is predominately centred around one- and two-bed houses, so this scheme will cater for that demand,” he said.
Mr Jones said that governmental approval had been granted for the design stage and an application has been lodged to finance project, which will cost in the region of €2million to complete.
“They will all be single-story units in keeping with the local surroundings, and as the scheme is under the Rapid Build Framework, it will be developed within a short time for going to tender, probably six months,” said Mr Jones.
“The point of coming here today was to seek your approval to move forward with the planning process so there are no delays.”
The scheme was welcomed by councillors, with Timmy Collins (Ind) saying he could not understood why anyone would object to new houses given the demand for housing across the entire district.
Cllr John Paul O’Shea (FG) said there was “an acute need” for housing locally and understood more housing projects were in the pipeline for Mallow.
Mr Jones said there were and that these would be outlined to councillors later on in the year.
While also welcoming the scheme, Cllr Melissa Mullane (SF) said she understood that the Council had “gone off the idea” of building new one-bedroom houses.
Mr Jones said that had been the case for a number of years, but that the changing demographic of applicants had seen an increase in demand for smaller social housing units.
“We do not have the level of demand for three- and four-bed houses that existed before. In fact, 70 per cent of demand is for one and two bed units. As an organisation, we have to cater for that demand,” said Mr Jones. “We are still building larger homes but are targeting sites such as this for oneand two-bed houses, which are suitable for the elderly, single people and small families,” he said.
In answer to a query from Cllr Gerard Murphy (FG), Mr Jones said the units had been specifically designed to cater for carers and visitors.
Committee chair Cllr Gearóid Murphy, said it was clear from the representations that what he and his colleagues were receiving there was a “clear demand” for one and two bed houses in Mallow.
“The sooner this scheme is completed, the better,” he said.