A MID West business has announced that it is to refurbish a 36-bed property to use for staff housing in response to the ongoing accommodation crisis across the country.
Atlantic Aviation, based in Shannon, will offer its employees rental accommodation in a purpose-built co-living space in direct response to the rental and housing crisis with employees struggling to secure homes in the area.
The vacant property, located in Sixmilebridge, was purchased by a subsidiary of Atlantic Aviation Group (AAG), and will give newly-hired employees a chance to find their feet and settle into their new jobs without the stress of looking for a home, a statement from the company said.
The development, close to AAG’s centre of operations at Shannon Airport, will consist of approximately 36 en-suite bedrooms for AAG employees with shared “relaxation areas” and living rooms, communal kitchens, and garden areas.
Despite growing its workforce in the last number of years, with 750 people now employed by the company, Atlantic Aviation Group says it has experienced significant challenges in recruiting staff due to the lack of available accommodation in the greater Shannon area.
The company, owned by entrepreneur Patrick Jordan, believes the Sixmilebridge development will alleviate pressure on new hires to find housing in the short and medium term.
AAG owner and chairman Patrick Jordan, who acquired the company in April 2015, said: “Like all employers, I and the AAG leadership team have observed and shared the journey that our people take to find suitable housing and accommodation. In the current market, that has proved to be a somewhat frustrating experience, with a scarcity of accommodation and high rent levels.”
“In providing rental accommodation for our new hires who need somewhere to live, we are giving our people the best possible chance to settle into their new roles right away and familiarise themselves with more long-term housing options. We are excited to be able to make this positive contribution and assist with accommodation.”
AAG CEO Shane O’Neill added that the accommodation is “not intended as a long-term solution but will prove invaluable in its role in giving employees a housing option when they start”.
The staff accommodation project, at the site of the former Jamaica Inn hostel, is being designed by O’Neill O’Malley Architecture. Limerick-based construction company LyMar Contracts Ltd is the developer. Aitch Sky Holdings, a subsidiary of AAG, is overseeing the project.
