Cork City Council has sold 350th affordable home
A Cork resident has become the 350th recipient of an affordable home in Cork city, which Cork City Council has called a “significant milestone in housing delivery”.
The house - which was developed under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS) - is in Glenbride, Kilnap. It is one of 86 energy efficient A-rated three-bed semi-detached, three-bed end of terrace and two-bed mid-terrace homes.
The estate was built in partnership between Cork City Council and Murnane and O’Shea Ltd.
Under the LAAPS, Cork City Council provides access to affordable homes by offering eligible applicants the chance to purchase a newly-built home at a price lower than its open market value.
In return, the council retains a percentage ‘equity share’ in the home equal to the difference between the open market value of the home and the reduced price paid by the purchaser.
Homeowners can choose to repay some, or all, of the equity share at any time following their acquisition of the property.
The sale came as the council launched the third and final phase in the development on 8 May, with a further 24 homes on offer under the LAAPS.
The city council has said it has now delivered 449 new homes in 10 LAAPS developments, exceeding its target of 378 affordable homes under the Government’s ‘Housing for All’ plan.
Other estates where affordable housing has been delivered include Glenmore Heights, Lehanaghmore in Togher, Danesfort in Whites Cross, Newton Heights in Mayfield, Seaberry in Grange, and Heathfield in Ballincollig.
The council said 92% of its affordable homes target have been sold.
More LAAPS homes are planned in 2026 and 2027. Including a 155 unit social and affordable housing scheme in Lehanaghmore, where 88 homes will be sold under the LAAPS, with more schemes to be announced.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy said the scheme will deliver high-quality homes for families in Cork, and it will deliver on the work that the council has already done in providing homes for the people of Cork.
“Each set of keys handed over represents safety and security for families, reflecting the strong collaboration between the Council and key stakeholders to continue building homes across our city.
“I want to congratulate the family on receiving the keys to their new home. Having already exceeded our Housing for All 2026 target, I also want to pay tribute to the Council staff who continue to work tirelessly to deliver these homes,” he said.
Brian Geaney, Assistant Chief Executive of Cork City Council said he was “immensely proud” of the milestone. “It is a clear demonstration of our ongoing commitment to delivering affordable homes that make a real and lasting difference in people’s lives. We are proud to be exceeding the ambitious targets set for us by Government, and we remain firmly focused on continuing this momentum. Today’s milestone is a reminder of the positive impact that well-planned, well-delivered housing can have on the people and communities we serve,” he said.
This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.