More than 50 social homes planned for Ballincollig

More than 50 social homes are to be built at Innishmore, Ballincollig, after city councillors voted to approve a Part Eight report for the development.

The plan approved at yesterday’s council meeting makes provision for 56 homes, comprising of one four-bed house; 17 three-bed houses; 12 one-bed apartments; 12 two-bed duplex units; seven two-bed ground-floor apartments, and seven three-bed duplex units.

Ranging in height from two storeys to three storeys, Innismore Gardens will also include 58 car parking spaces.

This name had been suggested by Sinn Féin councillor Joe Lynch, who grew up in the area, so that the proposed development could be contiguous with the existing estate.

“Innishmore is where I grew up, and it’s where I still live; it’s a place that’s known some hard times,” said Mr Lynch. “But I am very proud to say that I come from an incredible community; and I strongly wish to see the proposed development succeed, and for it to be fully integrated with the existing community.

“At my first meeting with the council’s deputy chief executive, I flagged this site as something that needed to be addressed, given that it has lain idle, in a prime location, for 25 years.

“Twelve months on, we have a proposal that works — one that will deliver 56 badly-needed new homes for those on the council’s housing list. I hope that in 34 years’ time the children who grow up in Innishmore Gardens can turn around like me and say with pride that they too were blessed to live in a safe, secure, affordable home, and to grow up in a community with great spirit.”

The plans were welcomed by Labour’s Ciara O’Connor and Fianna Fáil’s Colm Kelleher, though Mr Kelleher said he would have liked the scheme to have social, affordable, and private dwellings. The proposal went to a vote and passed 25 to three, with Independent Ireland’s Noel O’Flynn, and independents Albert Deasy and Kieran McCarthy voting against.