Work under way on affordable homes in Limerick

WORK is getting underway on a development of 30 affordable homes at King’s Island in the city.

Curry Lane is set to be home to the units, with confirmation of the start of work contained in council director general Dr Pat Daly’s monthly report.

The homes are earmarked to be cost-rental accommodation, a form of housing aimed at people who may not qualify for social housing but are struggling to afford private rents.

Under the cost-rental model, rents are based on the cost of building, managing and maintaining the homes, rather than being set at the prevailing market rate. Rents must be at least 25% below comparable market rents.

A council road-closure notice, published on October 1, also refers to construction of a six-storey apartment building on behalf of DNCF Building and Civil Solutions Ltd in the area of Flag Lane, Sullivan’s Lane and Curry Lane.

This notice proposes closures of sections of the roads from November 1 this year until September 1, 2027, to facilitate construction.

The council has not yet publicly confirmed in the information reviewed whether this construction notice relates directly to the 30-home cost-rental scheme.

The development comes amid continuing pressure on the city’s housing market, with cost-rental accommodation intended to offer a more affordable option for households who are not eligible for social housing support.

Further information on the scheme, including its delivery arrangements and application process, is awaited.

Separately, the council director general also confirmed the sale of 10 affordable purchase homes at Newtown Meadows in Castletroy.

Work is continuing to close the sales of six more of these affordable units.

Plans for five more affordable purchase homes at Rhebogue Road in Rhebogue are also progressing while an application is to be made to the Government to build six affordable homes at Lower Park Road in Corbally.

Meanwhile, work is ongoing to progress plans to build 37 affordable purchase homes at Glenwood in Patrickswell.

Twenty affordable cost-rental homes are planned at Newtown Avenue in Castletroy. And 43 affordable cost-rental homes are proposed in the new Towlerton development to the east of the city.