More new social homes are confirmed for Drumcondra

HOMES for 39 families are to be provided on a vacant site in Richmond Road, Drumcondra, it was confirmed last week.

The homes will be developed at a cost of €10.5 million and managed by Co-operative Housing Ireland.

Construction is due to commence in the first half of 2016 with the first occupants taking up residency in 2017.

The development will combine a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments in landscaped gardens overlooking the river Tolka. 

They will be provided to 39 local families currently on Dublin City Council’s housing list under a long term lease arrangement.

The Department of Environment will provide 30 per cent of funding through the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) with the remaining 70 per cent privately financed.

Minister for the Environment, Communities and Local Government, Alan Kelly, announced the details at the opening of 13 new homes at Calderwood Court; another co-operative housing development in Drumcondra being provided under a partnership arrangement with NAMA.

Calderwood Court is a mix of apartments and duplexes of one and two bedrooms.

The homes are built around a shared courtyard and benefit from close proximity to local facilities including schools and parks. Calderwood is the latest in a series of partnerships between Co-operative Housing Ireland and NAMA that has already delivered 80 homes in Cork, Waterford, Wexford and Dublin.

Co-operative Housing Ireland is the new name for NABCO, the national organisation for co

??operative housing in Ireland since 1973.

Tenants of the organisation buy shares in local co-operatives and can exercise a say over the management and development of their own communities.

Speaking at the opening of Calderwood Court Co-operative Housing Ireland CEO, Kieron Brennan said: “Our strategy is to respond to the national housing crisis by growing, particularly in urban areas of high demand. 

“These two new developments in Drumcondra will make a real contribution to meeting housing need in this area.”

Minister Kelly said the Government’s Social Housing Strategy was commited to delivering 35,000 new homes for social housing over the period to 2020. 

“Having seen the quality of houses provided here in Calderwood Court, I’m delighted that approved housing bodies such as Co-operative Housing Ireland will play a key role in meeting that target.”

NAMA Chief Executive, Brendan McDonagh said it had made 6,575 residential properties available for social housing nationally since 2011.

“Calderwood Court is another good example of all the key players working together and I would like to commend all those involved,” he added.

NAMA provided over €600,000 in funding to finish off and fit-out the 13 apartments and duplexes in Calderwood Court.