Two housing projects were given the go ahead by Cork city councillors this week.

Social housing projects approved

A Ballincollig site where anti-social behaviour was frequent is set for 70 social housing units after councillors gave the project the go ahead this week.

The Poulavone proposed development will see 70 residential units built along with 149 parking spaces, and an associated communal landscape area on the site, which is in the ownership of Cork City Council.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Colm Kelleher described it as “substantial milestone” for Ballincollig. The local councillor added: “It’s the first time in a long, long time that we will have a brand new social housing scheme in Ballincollig and it’s a fairly substantial size. It’s one of four social housing developments that will be coming on stream in the future for Ballincollig.”

Fine Gael Cllr Derry Canty also welcomed the development adding that it was “fantastic news” for the area.

He said: “There were numerous plans for this site over the past 17 years like a nursing home, for example. It had been idle for so long and there had been unruly and anti-social behaviour in there in the past. It’s a great honour for me to see that something is finally being done with the site.”

The proposed works include the construction of 18 apartments in six three-storey blocks, comprising of three one-bedroom ground floor specially adapted apartments, three two-bedroom ground floor apartments and 12 two-bedroom first floor duplexes.

The project also includes 16 two-bedroom terraced and semi-detached two-storey houses, eight two-bedroom one-storey bungalows, one two-bedroom specially adapted one-storey bungalow, 24 three-bed terraced and semi-detached two-storey houses. There will also be one three-bed specially adapted one-storey bungalow and two four-bed semi-detached two-storey houses.

Meanwhile, another social housing project was also given permission to be built by councillors this week. This will see 43 units built at Denroches Cross, at Glasheen Road and Magazine Road. The existing vacant buildings on the site will be demolished and one five-storey and one three-storey apartment blocks will be constructed.

This will include 18 one-bedroom apartments, 20 two-bedroom apartments and five two-bedroom duplex homes.

Chief Executive of Cork City Council Ann Doherty recommended that both projects go ahead, adding that there was a demand for social housing across the entire city.