Huge demand expected for new Ballincollig home scheme
Affordable Has Confirmed City Of New A At Cork Limited, Murnane Carriginarra, Partnership Council, O’shea The & Heathfield, With Scheme In Housing Ballincollig In Launch
Significant demand is expected for a new affordable housing scheme where prices are up to 20% below current market prices.
Cork City Council confirmed this weekend that it will open the online application portal for the 70 new homes which have been built in the new Heathfield estate in Ballincollig, on the western outskirts of the city, from 12noon on Tuesday week.
The homes will be available for sale from around 20% below current market prices to those who qualify for the affordable housing scheme based on a range of criteria, including income limits.
The scheme in the Carriganarra area of the town comprises a mix of A2-rated architecturally designed two and three-bedroom semi-detached homes and townhouses - 54 three-bedroom houses and 16 two-bedroom houses.
The two-bedroom homes will be available from €281,000, with three-bedroom homes available from €301,000.
They will generally be available for first-time buyers who do not already own a property, although exceptions will apply for ‘Fresh Start’ applicants, the city council said.
Under the terms of the scheme, purchasers will enter into an affordable dwelling purchase arrangement with the local authority, which will see the council retaining a percentage equity share in the house equal to the difference between its market value and the price paid by the purchaser.
If, as expected, demand for the homes exceeds supply, a detailed “scheme of priority” is in place to determine the order of priority for all applicants.
But income limits apply and potential applicants have been advised to familiarise themselves with the qualification criteria and the documentation required before applying.
The affordable homes were developed by Cork City Council, in partnership with Murnane & O’Shea Ltd, within the wider Heathfield estate where construction is ongoing.
The council said they have been built in a well-established area in a town which has excellent transport links, recreation, educational and leisure facilities.
This scheme follows the success of earlier affordable housing schemes at Newton Heights on the Boherboy Road in Mayfield, Cluain Chaoin in Tower, Crann Darach in Montenotte, and at Ardrostig in Bishopstown.
The Lord Mayor, Cllr Kieran McCarthy, said the Heathfield affordable homes are a significant part of the city council’s growing affordable housing portfolio.
“It will be an ideal place for those looking to get a foot on the property ladder, and to start putting down roots in an already thriving, vibrant community of Ballincollig, with all the wonderful amenities the town has to offer,” he said.
Brian Geaney, the council’s assistant chief executive, said this scheme marks another important milestone in the council’s ambitious target to deliver affordable, quality homes for eligible applicants.
“The Heathfield scheme is our fifth affordable housing scheme in recent times and demonstrates our commitment to deliver on the council’s housing targets, as set out in the Government’s National Housing Plan, Housing for All," he said.
Details on the qualifying criteria are available on the scheme’s online application portal, https://heathfieldballincollig.ie, which will accept applications from 12noon on Tuesday November 14 to midnight on December 5, 2023.