Council calls for turnkey homes
Cork County Council is seeking expressions of interest from builders and developers to secure ready to use homes in areas where affordable housing is most needed.
The call, which is targeted at development opportunities for a minimum of ten dwellings in any one scheme, is asking developers to consider offering houses or apartments with planning permission to Cork County Council under a turnkey-type arrangement.
The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan, welcomed the call. “This opportunity has been established to facilitate the accelerated delivery of housing generally, with a primary focus on providing affordable homes for eligible applicants nominated by the council in areas where a significant need for affordable housing has been identified.”
It is anticipated that, depending on circumstances and proposals, Cork County Council will enter into an agreement for an approved number of unbuilt homes, with payment for the homes being made by way of the direct sale of homes by the developer to an eligible purchaser nominated by the council.
Under the Housing for All plan, significant funding streams have already been secured to increase the number of new-build local authority homes for social and affordable housing. Local authorities can access a new Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) to assist in meeting the cost of delivery of affordable housing and deliver affordability to approved purchasers and renters.
This AHF forms part of an overall affordable housing budget which will provide €2.9 billion between now and 2030 to deliver homes for affordable purchase and rent.
Homebuilders and housing developers are asked to contact Cork County Council’s property or housing departments for more information and to submit an expression of interest.
The council will consider the initial proposal and, should it meet housing needs, cost and eligibility criteria, additional information will be sought to move forward with the process.
Commenting on the programme, Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey highlighted Cork County Council’s ambitious plans to deliver social and affordable housing across the county.
He said: “A number of projects are planned on the council’s own land that will provide affordable housing in the coming years. To complement that delivery, expressions of interest are now being sought from builders and developers to deliver affordable homes with assistance from the Affordable Housing Fund.
“All builders and developers are encouraged to consider this option which will provide them with financial certainty and will ensure the earlier availability of affordable housing in the most needed parts of the county.”
An expression of interest form and additional information is available from Cork County Council’s Housing and property department or from corkcoco.ie.