COUNCILLORS have expressed disappointment that a proposed affordable housing development in Patrickswell will no longer be proceeding as an Affordable Purchase Scheme.
The proposed An Tobar development, originally mooted for 111 social and affordable homes, is located on the Creamery Road, a short walking distance from Patrickswell village.
According to local councillors, the site will now be sold on a private and open market basis by the developer.
However, subject to a property price ceiling of €375,000, purchasers may qualify for the national First Home Scheme (FHS), which is a shared equity scheme to help bridge the gap between a deposit and mortgage, and the price of a new home in the development.
The scheme aims to make home ownership achievable by bridging the gap for first-time buyers and other eligible homebuyers between their deposit and mortgage and the price of their new home.
Speaking to the Limerick Post, Independent councillor Fergus Kilcoyne expressed disappointment that all the houses in the development are now going to be sold privately.
“I believe that consultations should recommence between Limerick City and County Council and the developer to include at least 20 to 30 per cent as social and affordable homes, otherwise people less well off in this local area will never get the chance of owning one of these homes, which is very unfair,” he insisted.
The City West representative is calling for talks now to resume between the developer and Limerick City and County Council as a matter of priority.
“Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien launched them recently as all social and affordable homes. But negotiations have obviously broken down between that council and the developer. I want renegotiations to happen to allow at least 20 to 30 per cent back to social and affordable homes. This is the first housing estate to be built in Patrickswell in 35 years,” Cllr Kilcoyne declared.
Fine Gael councillor Dan McSweeney also deemed it extremely disappointing that this scheme will now not proceed as an affordable purchase scheme.
“Since the funding announcement, I have been inundated with interest from locals and people across Limerick interested in getting on the property ladder. The provision of these units was crucial to those being able to do so,” he said.
“At present Limerick City and County Council have yet to deliver a key in a door of an affordable purchase home since the introduction of the Affordable Housing Fund over 18 months ago. It is extremely frustrating when you look around the country and see the success within other local authorities.”
