Oaklee Housing has started a €550,000 project that will complete six unfinished homes that were abandoned 10 years ago in Clones, Co. Monaghan.
The work is the first phase of a planned transformation of a two-acre site in Liseggerton and will be followed by an Oaklee proposal to develop 23 new additional units on the derelict land.
Oaklee said it intends to lodge the planning proposal for the new homes in July and the existing homes, consisting of two, three and four bedroom general needs homes, are expected to be ready for occupancy by December 2017.
Funding for the completion work was secured with support from Monaghan County Council was provided by The Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Programme.
Sharon Cosgrove, Chief Executive of Oaklee Housing said:
“There are many demands for housing in today’s society and it is important that we get more homes underway. We are determined play our part and this is one of a number of Oaklee developments that will address housing shortage and breathe life back into sites that have laid derelict for too long.
“Our vision is to build strong partnerships with a range of local authorities, government agencies and developers so that we can accelerate the delivery of social and affordable homes for a range of tenure groups. We believe a collaborative approach can shape a more effective response to big policy areas.”
Cllr Pat Treanor Cathaoirleach of Ballybay Clones Municipal District welcomed the commencement of works on the development at Eanaigh Alta and stated that “ The town of Clones has an urgent need for good quality social housing with the recent census highlighting the decline in population. I welcome this affirmative action and hope that the provision of new housing stock will reverse this declining trend. Clones is a great place to live and has many facilities to offer its residents with many future projects commencing in the near future"
The housing association has secured more than €2m in funding from the Capital Assistance Scheme for new homes for elderly needs at the site and is applying for a further €1m to develop new homes for general needs.
