113 NEW HOMES in Limerick officially welcomed their new tenants this Monday (February 12) with an official ribbon cutting ceremony.
The 113 new homes at The Mills in Castletroy were officially launched this week, a collaboration between Circle Voluntary Housing Association (VHA) and Cairn Homes.
The new social and affordable homes are the first homes to be launched in Limerick by an approved housing body (AHB).
The 113 homes are made up of 57 cost rental properties and 56 social homes.
Cost rental homes provide a long-term, secure rental option to individuals working in the area with a maximum net household figure below €59,000, a statement from CHA said, adding that those taking up residents today “are households who face challenges affording private rented accommodation”.
The 113 homes delivered at The Mills form part of the larger 224 home site, with a mixture of two and three-bedroom A-rated houses designed to cater for a wide spectrum of housing needs.
A new tenant of the Mills said that they felt that having a secure home in Limerick had become a “pipe dream”.
“Having lived in Limerick for six years, my family had been looking to settle in a more suitable accommodation for close to three years. With the ever-increasing rent rate, as an average earner, this became a pipe dream for us,” they said.
“The option of cost rental couldn’t have come at a better time when we were losing hope of renting a suitable home whilst remaining in the community of Limerick.”
Speaking ahead of the launch of the new homes, John Hannigan, CEO of Circle VHA, said that the company’s “conviction is rooted in the belief that by providing secure and affordable choices, we enhance individual wellbeing and contribute to the diversity and stability of the evolving housing landscape in Limerick”.
Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Gerald Mitchell, said that cost rental provides a real solution for workers in search of homes.
“I’m delighted to see the progress being made at The Mills by Circle VHA, in collaboration with Cairn, Limerick City and County Council, and other stakeholders. The challenge of obtaining affordable housing not only causes worry and tension among workers but also affects local employers’ competitive edge and their capacity to draw and keep talent.”
Mayor Mitchell added that “there are several projects underway in Limerick at the moment that promise to provide more cost rental and affordable sale options for the workforce in the near and distant future”.
