Seven homes to be built on site of former library
PLANS to build seven social homes this year on the site of the former Arklow library took another step forward last week.
Last Tuesday, Wicklow County Council signed contracts with the Coyne Group to start the conversion of the former library on St Mary’s Road into seven social housing units.
The development will consist of three one-bedroomed and four two-bedroomed units and will be known as The Old Schoolhouse in acknowledgement of the history of building
Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Edward Timmins, said: ‘I welcome the decision of the members of the Council to approve planning for the conversion of the old library in Arklow into seven apartments for people on our housing list. This is a win-win situation for Arklow as it sees a beautiful period building restored, giving it new life and a home for seven lucky housing applicants.’
Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council Frank Curran said that the project originated in 2016 when the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government asked all Chief Executives to try to identify local authority property which could be converted into social housing.
‘I want to pay tribute to Director Joe Lane and his housing team who had the necessary vision and have worked hard to design such wonderful units in this beautiful period building. Urban renewal and restoring vacant units to productive use is a key policy of the Council’s Housing Strategy and future tenants will benefit from this excellent town centre location,’ he said.
Cllr Tommy Annesley, cathaoirleach of Arklow Municipal District, said: ‘The people of Arklow are delighted that this building, which holds so many memories from when it was a schoolhouse and the former library, will continue to be a vibrant part of the Arklow townscape’.
Wicklow County Council’s Director of Housing Joe Lane said that the units will be ready for occupation towards the end of 2018.