Affordable homes ruled out for major Mayo scheme

The 83-unit housing development being constructed at the former Cheshire Homes site in Ballina will not be reconsidered as a mixed development offering both social and affordable housing.

The decision was confirmed at the July meeting of Ballina Municipal District in response to a notice of motion tabled by Cllr Marie-Therese Duffy, who called on Mayo Co Council to deliver at least 38 of the units under the Affordable Purchase Scheme.

Cllr Duffy said her motion was backed by evidence of local demand, and she has previously called for 10% of all future housing developments in Ballina to be earmarked for affordable units to help meet that demand.

She pointed to the recent countywide expression of interest survey for affordable housing, which received 133 responses, including 38 people who selected Ballina as their first-choice location. She also referenced a recent KPMG report, which identified a market need for affordable housing in Ballina and concluded the town is suitable for developments under the Affordable Purchase Scheme.

“The number of responses indicates a clear demand for affordable houses in Ballina,” she said. “I’m calling for the council to reconsider the Cheshire Homes sites as a potential for a mixed development where there would be social and affordable housing units on offer.” 

As an example, she referenced the Bog Road Demesne development on the Golf Course Road in Westport. The estate was originally intended to be a fully social housing project, but following lobbying by local councillors, it was revised to include five affordable three-bedroom homes alongside 45 social housing units. A total of 55 applications were made for the five affordable homes.

The Cheshire Homes development will deliver 83 social housing units, comprising one and two-bedroom apartments and 16 three-bedroom houses.

“This housing scheme is going to be one of the biggest in the county. I am asking the council to reconsider. The survey shows there is demand in Ballina,” Cllr Duffy said.

Her motion was seconded by councillors Annie May Reape and Jarlath Munnelly.

In a written response, Head of Housing Olivia Gallagher said the council had examined the possibility of including affordable housing at the site but concluded it was not viable. She said there are currently 708 applicants on the housing waiting list in the Ballina area, showing the need for the development to deliver social housing.

Although 38 respondents selected Ballina as their preferred location, she said the town ranked lower than other areas, suggesting that the scale of affordable units proposed by Cllr Duffy "may exceed local demand".

Under the Affordable Purchase Scheme, the maximum State equity contribution is €75,000, while the minimum available in Mayo is €50,000.

Based on current asking prices for homes advertised in Ballina on Daft.ie, Ms Gallagher said the estimated costs of the Cheshire Homes development would leave the homes above what would be considered affordable, even after the subsidy was applied.

"This raises concerns regarding affordability for purchasers and sales risk for Mayo County Council," she said.

Director of Services for Housing, Catherine McConnell, told councillors that expressions of interest do not necessarily translate into eligible purchasers.

“While there were 38 preferences for Ballina, the average follow-through from an expression of interest to qualifying for the scheme is around four to one,” she said. “The affordability for that site is unlikely to work in terms of figures, but we are actively looking at alternative options for affordable housing in Ballina.

“What is affordable is determined by market price minus the subvention, that wouldn’t provide affordability for the [Cheshire Homes] site,” she added.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.