Mayo County Council proposes 14 new social dwellings in Claremorris

A proposal for 14 new social dwellings on a triangular site to the rear of the Barr na hÁille estate in Claremorris, Co. Mayo, was presented to members of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District, where councillors broadly welcomed the plans while raising questions about construction traffic and consultation with disability groups.

Matt Stevens of Mayo County Council outlined the scheme, which comprises five three-bedroom houses, three two-bedroom houses and four one-bedroom apartments, clustered around a new green space. That breakdown accounts for twelve of the fourteen units, and no detail was given in the material presented on the remaining two.

The development will also include a new access road and parking spaces, new footpaths, a public green space, site clearance, new services, utilities and drainage, connections and infrastructure for statutory undertakers, landscaping, public lighting, boundary walls and fencing, and all ancillary site works.

Asked about the projected cost, Mr Stevens said it was “within the acceptable range,” adding: “The site is fairly level. It is relatively modest in terms of costs.” No figure was given.

Concerns over construction traffic

Cllr Richard Finn asked the council to explore an alternative entrance during construction, so that heavy machinery would not have to pass through two existing housing estates, Barr na hÁille and Lúi na Gréine.

He said residents of both estates put constant effort into maintaining them, and described them as examples of how well local authority and social housing estates can be kept. He warned that residents were struggling and that construction traffic would compound the difficulty.

Support for smaller units

Cllr Finn also welcomed the move towards a mix of property types in social housing. He noted that most people seeking housing are single, and suggested that attitudes in the west of Ireland have been resistant to apartments.

“In the West of Ireland, we seem to be sort of anti-apartment for whatever reason it is”, the Claremorris-based politician said.

“There’s no need to be trying to house single people and couples in three and four bedroom houses” where alternative accommodation is available, he said, particularly in smaller towns and villages where demand exists.

Cllr Patsy O’Brien backed the mix of house types and said he would be making further suggestions. He argued that more villages should be looked at for similar schemes, saying there is “a big need” for smaller developments of 13 to 15 units, which he described as practical in most villages. Councillors also discussed the importance of diverse housing options, including apartments, to meet the needs of single occupants and couples, and of helping young people enter the housing market.

Mr Stevens said Mayo County Council aims to raise the proportion of age-friendly and universally designed dwellings in the county to 30%, a target it hopes to see enshrined in the next county development plan.

Disabled Persons Organisation to be consulted in future

Cllr Lawless asked whether the Disabled Persons Organisation (DPO) had been consulted on the design, including on meeting the 5% threshold for accessible homes.

Mr Stevens said the council had not engaged with the DPO. “To be honest, we weren’t aware of their existence prior to today’s meeting, but we’d be happy to do so,” he said. He added that the council would engage with the DPO “on future designs going forward.”

The proposal was presented for discussion at the meeting. No decision on construction timelines or access arrangements was reported.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme