Social and Affordable Housing Developments Advance in Fermoy and Cobh

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O' Flynn.

Cork County Council is working towards the completion of two social and affordable housing developments that will deliver 151 new homes in the county. 

The Crann Ard development in Fermoy is a 48-unit social housing development with a mix of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom properties that will be made available for letting in phases later this year and during 2025. While the Cluain Ard Development in Cobh is a 103-unit development, consisting of 54 social and 49 affordable homes, with a mix of 2 and 3 bedroom properties expected to be complete this Summer. 

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn said,

Cork County Council, in partnership with the developers look forward to progressing these projects over the coming months to help address the shortage of high-quality new homes available. I am delighted to see works recommence in Fermoy and I look forward to seeing the development progress over the coming months. I also look forward to residents moving into these turnkey properties in the near future.

The Crann Ard scheme in Fermoy will see the completion of an unfinished estate and is being developed in partnership between Cooleeney Developments Ltd and Cork County Council. The project will also see the construction of the necessary infrastructure to open up the adjoining 18 acres of zoned lands for future development.  An associated company VB Developments Ltd will shortly be lodging planning permission for 300 homes through the LRD process, which will deliver further social and affordable housing in Fermoy. 

The Cluain Ard scheme in Cobh will also see the completion of an unfinished estate, which is being developed in partnership between Sirio Homes and Cork County Council. The 49 affordable homes are being sold to approved purchasers, with all sales being subsided by a €75,000 subsidy per house provided from the Affordable Housing Fund under the Government’s ‘Housing for All’ plan.  

The on-site infrastructure in Cobh has delivered by the Housing Infrastructure Services Company (HISCo), a joint venture between Cork County Council and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) established to support the development of new homes across Ireland.  

The CEO of HISCo, Niall Morrissey said, “This project builds on our successful projects that are ongoing across the country and augurs well for our plans to deliver similar supporting infrastructure for new homes across Ireland.  The project would not be possible without our shareholders, Cork County Council and ISIF, for having the foresight and courage to establish HISCo; the HISCo Board and the professional advisors that have brought us this far. HISCo provides an innovative solution to the provision of both on-site and off-site infrastructure that is hindering the delivery of residential development throughout Ireland. The unique aspect of HISCo’s Model is that the fee is calculated on a per unit basis and is only payable as each unit is sold or first leased.” 

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Valerie O’Sullivan added, 

Cork County Council is committed to delivering social and affordable housing, throughout the county. The progression of these new homes in Cobh and Fermoy is a key part of our Housing Delivery Action Plan which sets ambitious targets for the delivery of housing during the 5-year period between 2022 and 2026. These developments build on recently completed schemes in Carrigaline, Bandon, Macroom, Doneraile, Courtmacsherry and Mallow.