Allocation of social houses underway at Tullamore's newest development

OFFALY County Council is currently working with Oaklee Housing Association to finalise the allocation of 19 social housing units at Clonminch in Tullamore.

''These units are finished to a very high standard and the Council is delighted to be in a position to allocate these homes to qualified applicants on the Social Housing Support List,'' a spokesperson at the council said.

The development is a mix of one and two bedroom bungalows catering for the elderly in the community. These people have been on the housing waiting list or are already in social housing but may be seeking to downsize.

The houses, which are designed by Brian Dunlop Architects, are modern and set around a central landscaped plaza which was designed by Doyle + O'Troithigh Lanscape Architects.

The development is due to be serviced by public transport and a new bus stop is to be set up to provide access into and out of the town.

Local Councillor Declan Harvey has described the houses as ''the bees knees.'' He said, ''there will be a bus link in time, that is still on the cards as these houses are for people over 50.They are a welcome addition to the housing offering in the Tullamore Municipal District and Offaly County Council,'' he said.

Oaklee is also set to deliver 41 houses at Kearney's Field, Tullamore. In 2019 the housing body received the green light for the €9.5 million construction project. This will accommodate up to 170 people in a mix of one to four bedroom general needs homes, including two wheelchair accessible houses.

Speaking previously about the Clonminch development, Director of Services Tom Shanahan said: ''The site provides a fantastic opportunity to increase available and appropriate housing stock to the community. This, on top of the 41 units that Oaklee Housing will deliver for us at Kearney’s Field, Tullamore means that we are in a much better position to service the housing needs in this area.''

Social housing developments elsewhere in the Tullamore Municipal District area include 38 houses in Raheen in Clara. Bretland Construction have been appointed to build the houses there. Work commenced on the site in March and Offaly County Council say they expect them to finish on schedule.

In November last year Minister Darragh O'Brien officially opened 71 social housing units in Mucklagh and Tullamore.

The council partnered with an approved housing body, Cluid, to deliver 26 houses at Jackson's Hill, Rahan Road, Tullamore. Those houses were built by local company John Flanagan Developments.

In Mucklagh, eight houses have been delivered to the council through a turnkey scheme by Hanney Properties Ltd.