114 co-operative housing scheme launches in Rathnew
A NEW Co-operative Housing Ireland (CHI) €40 million social housing development consisting of 114 family homes was launched on Tuesday at Hazelbrook in Rathnew.
Families including 138 children moved into the first 88 homes in Hazelbrook in the run-up to Christmas and a further 56 families will be moving in over the coming weeks. The tenants, drawn from Wicklow County Council’s housing list, are also members of the newly established Avoca Co-operative, this means they have input into the decision-making of the co-operative.
Speaking at the launch, Cllr Irene Winters, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, said: ‘I recognise the serious challenge we face in terms of housing and a critical focus and priority has been firmly placed on responding to this challenge through the development and implementation of the Social Housing supply programme. I am delighted at the co-ordinated effort between Wicklow County Council and Cooperative Housing Ireland to deliver these 144 homes. So far, 265 people have moved into the first 78 homes, and these new tenants have been filled from the Wicklow County Council housing list. Nine of the people housed so far in Hazelbrook are coming from homelessness and 138 are children. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone involved in bringing this project to completion.’
The delivery of this housing was made possible by a new lending partnership between CHI and Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking. The 144 homes were delivered for just over €40 million, with an average purchase price per unit of €279,000. The development comprises a mix of duplexes, apartments and houses.
The 144 homes are of mixed sizes. There are one, two, three, and four-bedroom units fitted out to the highest of standards, all with a minimum BER rating of A3.
Frank Curran, CEO Wicklow County Council said: ‘The provision of these 144 social homes in Rathnew is of significant importance to the people of Wicklow. This collaborative approach to delivery is at the heart of the Council’s supply programme and, of course, part of the strategy contained in Rebuilding Ireland. The Council currently has 18 projects at various stages of construction and tendering, with funding of over €58million already sanctioned by the Department. A further 16 Schemes are under active consideration with a potential yield for a further 260 units by 2021. We are also engaged with Approved Housing Bodies under the CALF and CAS schemes and with private developers who are delivering additional units under Part V. I must sincerely express my gratitude to the Minister and his staff in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.’