More than 1,100 Cork City social houses stalled in planning process
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More than 1,100 social houses in Cork City are stalled at various stages of the planning process.
A social housing project status report from the Department of Housing shows that 1,182 planned homes in Cork City remained at the same point in the planning process in September 2023 that they had been at last January.
Almost half of those are on site and being built, but 25 projects remain at the planning stage nine months on.
The report shows there are 20 projects on site and 14 at tender, three at pre-tender, five at design, and three at pre-planning, with 569 homes on site and being constructed. The homes are a mixture of council and approved housing body construction.
The department's tracker uses six stages to gauge the progress of projects, ranging from capital appraisal to pre-planning, pre-tender, final tender report, on-site, and completion.
Of those on site, over 100 are part of the regeneration of Knocknaheeny, while another 112 are in the Clúid scheme at Thomas Davis St in Blackpool, though it is understood that these homes are due to be completed in the coming weeks.
The figure has prompted questions from a Cork TD about the snags in the development process.
More than 13,000 people were recorded as homeless in the Department of Housing's most recent report on emergency accommodation, while data published by property website Daft.ie show that the number of homes for sale in Ireland last year was "dramatically below" pre-covid levels.
The status report shows that some approved projects in Cork City have been awaiting tenders or waiting to go on site for some time.
These include:
- Nine homes on Glen Ryan Rd which were approved in Q2, 2019;
- 42 homes on Brocklesby St, Blackpool, and 16 homes on Blarney St which were approved in Q1, 2022;
- 30 homes on Church Rd in Blackrock which were approved in Q2, 2022.
Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould said that while he understands the complexities involved in some schemes, others have not progressed as quickly as possible.
“Some of these projects have sat at various stages of construction since 2019," said Mr Gould. "We are in the midst of a housing crisis.
In response, the Department of Housing said that the construction status report shows that 9,782 social homes are currently on site with an additional 13,822 homes at design and tender stage and said that Cork City would deliver on its targets.
"Cork City has a target to deliver 2,794 new build social homes in the period 2022-2026. Cork City achieved their target in 2022 and are on course to achieve their 2023 target.
"Build programmes for multiple homes can normally expect to take between 18 to 24 months to complete and a number of the projects on site at end Q3 2023 will have been delivered in Q4."
The department also rejected Mr Gould's assertion that delays were due to a lack of staff and resources.
"A number of factors could contribute to delays in construction projects including well-documented challenges presented by construction material costs, supply chain issues, and the impacts of interest rate movements," said a department spokesperson.
"At a local level, complexities such as legal issues, retendering projects, reviewing the viability of projects, infrastructure challenges and planning revisions, and AHB/developer negotiation can also have an impact."
Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien said last month that while the construction report had shown just over 4,000 social homes delivered of the 9,100 target set out in Housing For All, he believes that target will be achieved because of a strong fourth quarter.