GREEN LIGHT FOR MALLOW HOUSING SOCIAL PLAN
WORK SET TO COMMENCE IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A PROJECTED SIX-MONTH TURNAROUND TIME
A PROPOSAL by Cork County Council to build 10 new social housing units on the site of a disused quarry at Forest View in Mallow has passed its final hurdle after it was formally granted Part 8 planning permission.
At this week’s full meeting of the authority, councillors rubber stamped the development, with work set to begin on the project in the New Year.
Last July, councillors from the Kanturk/Mallow district committee were given a full appraisal of the scheme, which will consist of four one-bed and six two-bed units, each incorporating dedicated ‘wet-rooms’.
It will incorporate car-parking and be surrounded by a dedicated green area.
Senior housing engineer Keith Jones told councillors there were more than 500 approved applicants on the Council’s housing list in the Mallow area, a number that he said was expected to rise before the end of the year.
“Demand is predominantly centred around one- and two-bed houses, so this scheme will cater for that demand,” said Mr Jones.
“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 smaller units, and as an organisation, we have to cater for that demand. We are still building larger homes but are targeting sites such as this for one- and two-bed houses, which are suitable for the elderly, single people and small families,” he said.
Concerns had been raised in submissions lodged with the authority by residents of nearby Avondale Park in relation to a number of issues pertaining to the development, including boundary walls; sight-lines; and site management, security and access during construction.
In a lengthy report the Council said it had addressed these concerns and had also made a number of variations to the design of the project.
Speaking to The Corkman this week Mr Jones confirmed that funding for the project, which will cost in the region of €2million to build, with monies having already being secured from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
“The approval granted this week will now move to the tender stage, and it is envisaged that construction work will begin on site during the second quarter of 2019,” said Mr Jones.
“These 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 relatively short time of going to tender, probably six months,” said Mr Jones.
Welcoming the granting of planning for the development, Cllr John Paul O’Shea (FG) said it would help address the “acute need” for social housing in the Mallow area.
“This is a very positive move by the Council and is the first of many new housing projects in the pipeline for the Mallow area, details of which will be rolled out in the coming weeks and months,” he said.