Tipperary council to offer country's First Ready to Build low cost housing sites for sale
Applications open for the first four Ready to Build sites in Boherlahan next Monday
Tipperary County Council plans to offer more Ready to Build low cost housing sites for sale around the county if its first scheme of four sites in Boherlahan that opens to applications next Monday is successful.
That was the message Shane Grogan of Tipperary County Council’s Housing Section issued at the Councils March meeting as he gave a presentation on the launch of the Ready to Build affordable housing scheme.
Tipperary County Council will be the first local authority in the country to offer Ready to Build sites for sale to qualifying applicants.
It’s inviting applications from interested buyers for the €25,000 sites that are situated located in The Crescent area of Boherlahan village from March 25 to 5pm on April 12
Mr Grogan explained that Ready to Build was primarily targeted at first time buyers or people who qualify under the Fresh Start principal because they are divorced, separated or went through financial insolvency or bankruptcy and no longer have a financial interest in their previous home.
These applicants will be given first preference for the sites.
Second preference applicants who will be considered are those who have a particular need specifically, people with disabilities or older people moving from their current home, which they are selling or have sold and want to live in a town or village.
Third preference applicants are those moving from their current home which they are selling or have sold and want to live in a town or village setting.
He explained Ready to Build sites are available at a discount of a maximum of €30,000 on the market value of the site.
Approved applicants who purchase a site and build a home there must live in the house they build for a minimum of 10 years.
You are only allowed to buy one site and your tax affairs must be in order.
Mr Grogan said the four Boherlahan sites include boundary fencing, electricity and water services for the sale price of €25,000.
The total cost to Tipperary County Council for installing services on the site is €28,250.
Application forms can be downloaded from the Council’s website and can be submitted by email, posted to the Council’s Civic Offices at Emmet Street, Clonmel or handed into the Council’s offices.
Mr Grogan stressed that applications received after the 5pm deadline on April 12 won’t be considered.
He explained successful applicants must apply for planning permission within three months of paying their €2,500 deposit for the site.
Ownership of the site will only be transferred once planning is approved and the balance is paid. Construction work on the house must begin within 12 months of the date of planning permission.
Mr Grogan said Boherlahan’s close proximity to transport links and strong community ethos were among the reasons the Council chose the village for its first Ready to Build scheme.
He said hopefully this first Ready to Build scheme in the county will be a success.
“Should it be so, we want to expand it into other areas of the county. We want to make sure it works and iron out any difficulties, identify other areas and move onto the next site.”
The Ready to Build scheme was universally welcomed by councillors at the meeting and several put queries to Mr Grogan about aspects of the scheme.
Mr Grogan agreed to look at Cllr Declan Burgess’ proposal to host information clinics or workshops for people interested in purchasing sites under this scheme.
He said there was no income limit in the scheme’s qualification criteria nor is there a geographical limit. You don’t have to be from Tipperary and no preference is given to people from the local area.
He stressed the scheme was primarily aimed at first time buyers and fresh start principle applicants. It was only if there were not enough applicants from this category that the council moved onto selecting applicants meeting the second preference criteria.
Fine Gael Cllr Michael Fitzgerald asked if there were going to be restrictions on the type of houses the approved applicants can build and was told that the Council’s planners would advise them on what type of houses will be suitable for the sites.
Mr Grogan told Cllr Imelda Goldsboro that once approved applicants purchase their site they can apply and avail of other Affordable Housing initiatives to assist them in building their home.
Cllr Jim Ryan, who voiced concern about criminals purchasing sites, was told there was no provision in the scheme to Garda vet applicants .