Contract signed for construction of 'transformative' social housing development in Macroom

A NEW social housing development comprising of a mix of town houses and apartments is to get underway in Macroom after a contract was signed on Friday by Cork County Mayor, Frank O’Flynn, for a total in the region of €3.3m.

The development comprising four two bedroom town houses, 10 one bedroom and two two bedroom apartments will be built by JD Buckley Construction Ltd as the second phase on a formerly vacant site in Sleaveen, near the town centre. The first phase of the development has already delivered an eight unit apartment development at the site.

County Mayor, Mr O’Flynn, described the beginning of the proposed development as ‘transformative’.

“By taking a once derelict site and bringing it back to life, this project will breathe new life into the town centre, as well as delivering much needed new homes in the heart of the community,” he said.

Cork County Council chief executive Valerie O’Sullivan said the authority was seeking opportunities ‘to regenerate vacant and derelict sites in town centres by developing new accommodation’.

“This project demonstrates that the regeneration of towns is one of the objectives of Housing for All — the Government’s housing plan to 2030,” said Ms O’Sullivan.

“Cork County Council has proven to be an organisation capable of producing high quality housing and, subject to funding, will continue to identify and develop sites such as this to re-energise towns and build new communities.”

The project has been brought from detailed design to construction stage by a multidisciplinary team led by Cork County Council’s Housing Directorate Architect’s Section, Ray Keane Associates Civil and Structural Engineers, Karl Slyne Quantity Surveyors Ltd and DKP Building Services.

The opening of the Macroom bypass, heralded a reduction of pollution as well as shortening the commute time to Cork, heralding a housing boom in the town with a number of developments being constructed at present and others entering the planning process.