Modular homes could be part of solution to Offaly housing crisis
Concerns about call to bypass planning permission as €150,000 a house claim is made
Fully fitted out modular houses could be provided for people on the social housing list for €150,000 each, a councillor has claimed.
Cllr Tony McCormack cited the figure, which excludes site costs, when he proposed a motion to Offaly County Council asking it to address the housing crisis by building modular houses.
Cllr McCormack urged the council to write to the Government requesting a legislative change that the houses be built without planning permission.
The Fianna Fail councillor said the sites should be picked by councils and the projects then be overseen and managed by the local authority.
“We had a very very successful modular housing build scheme here in Clonminch for the Ukrainian people who came into our country in devastating circumstances,” said the Tullamore representative.
He said he was aware of a project in Cork where the council had built modular housing for people on its social housing list.
“It has turned out to be very fantastic set-up there. I spoke to some councillors in the area and they tell me the people living in the modular houses are very, very happy with it.”
He said the residents were happy to be off the housing list and stressed that he did not want a coach and horses driven through the existing planning process but added: “It's about taking a practical approach and thinking outside the box.”
He said many people in Offaly were living in emergency accommodation, others were in “cramped conditions” with in-laws, and still more were paying exorbitant rents.
Detailing a 1,500 square feet modular house he was aware of which cost €150,000, he said he believed there is “an awful lot better value” in alternative and newer building techniques.
Cllr McCormack also said the Tullamore modular housing project for the Ukrainians only took 30 weeks to complete.
His motion was seconded by party colleague, Cllr Declan Harvey.
Reacting to the motion, Cllr Sandra Feehan Smollen, Tullamore, said that shortly after she had come on Offaly County Council the issue of providing modular housing for those on the waiting list was “completely shot down” and it was said that they would not be value for money.
“People wouldn't like it because it was modular housing, it wasn't real houses. There was a number of reasons given as to why the modular housing wouldn't work,” said Cllr Feehan Smollen, who said she was impressed with the Clonminch scheme.
The independent councillor said she had to wonder at the timing of Cllr McCormack's motion, especially so soon before a local election.
“Five years this council has been here and suddenly now we recognise that there's a housing crisis. This crisis has been going on for a long time.”
She added: “I've no problem with modular housing and I've no problem with planning permission being waived to get houses for people who've been on the list for years.”
Another independent member, Cllr Sean O'Brien, said he was “delighted” with Cllr McCormack's motion because it appeared now that he recognised there was a housing crisis, something which was denied when he brought a motion on housing before the council back in 2019.
“His own party asked me to take the word crisis out of the motion. Suddenly now Fianna Fail see it as a crisis. Fine Gael see it as a crisis,” said Cllr O'Brien.
The councillor added that the Clonminch modular houses cost €175,000 each, excluding site costs and he had a feeling of “ghetto” about the “cynical” motion which had been tabled.
“I want quality housing for people who are on the housing list,” he remarked, adding that he was very much in favour of houses being provided rapidly.
Cllr John Leahy, an independent councillor in the Birr Area, said his concern was about building the houses without planning permission.
Cllr Leahy said that could be a “dangerous road” to go down. “You need planning guidelines, you need planning laws,” he stated.
Cllr Neil Feighery, Fine Gael, said he supported the use of modern methods of construction, and noted that a demonstration area on those methods was going to be built in Mountlucas.
Cllr Feighery said the spirit of Cllr McCormack's motion was worthwhile even if there would be reservations about the planning permission issue.
Responding to the comments, Cllr McCormack said this was not his first time to bring up the issue of modular homes and said he had raised it 15 months earlier.
He said it was a “pet project” of his and following a lot of research he believed the quality of modular housing would be good and such houses would be part of the overall solution.
“I've knocked on doors and people have said to me they'd love to live in a place like they have in Clonminch because of the dire situation they're in.”
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