The ribbon has been cut on Cork County Council’s first Cost Rental scheme at An Cnocán in Bantry, with Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD on hand to perform the opening.
The development of 10 newly built A-rated two, three and four-bed homes aims to provide affordable rented accommodation to people on middle incomes. Further cost rental schemes will open in Midleton and Bandon in the coming months with the rent at least 25% below private market rents in each area.
The event formed part of a series of site visits to affordable and social housing schemes in the county, including to Mitchelstown on Friday last. To date, more than 200 houses have been made available under the Affordable Purchase scheme in seven different towns in county Cork.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll said that there has been ‘great interest’ in the Cost Rental scheme since it opened earlier this month.
“These homes offer security for tenants and are a long-term affordable option for people who do not own a home, are above the threshold for social housing and find it difficult to afford private rented accommodation.”
He continued by stating that “the cost rental and affordable homes provide additional avenues for us to achieve our targets under the Government’s Housing for All national housing plan.”
The Minister for Housing, who also visited a €9.5 million turnkey social housing development at Caherdaniel in Bantry, added that the scheme was “a key part of Government’s Housing for All plan, and cost rental schemes are now becoming a reality across the country”.
“This excellent development in Bantry is one of many – as we work to scale up delivery of affordable and social homes where they are most needed. These homes will have a transformative impact in this area – creating a sustainable, affordable, well-connected community,” Minister O’Brien noted.
OTHER PROJECTS
The Minister for Housing also visited two projects in Macroom, a town regeneration and social housing development in Sleaveen East and 15 affordable homes in Meadowlands, while concluding his trip with site visits to Baile Adaim in Carrigtwohill, where 23 affordable homes are currently for sale and to Brigown Road, Mitchelstown, where 8 social houses are nearing completion.
Cork Co Council’s delivery programme under Housing for All will see 1,350 Social and 280 Affordable dwellings completed by the end of 2024. For more information about cost rental, social and affordable housing schemes in county Cork, visit www.corkcoco.ie
