Affordable housing issue causes sparks to fly in Castlebar
Councillors in Castlebar agreed at their recent meeting that a new 64âunit housing development at Lawn Road should include affordable houses but were at odds on how to deliver them.
When the development came before last week’s meeting for approval, Cllr Donna Sheridan said the plan lacked any housing mix.
“There is no affordable housing proposed here and no mix in the delivery. There is a major gap for workers needing somewhere to live and this is not addressing that."
Cllr Harry Barrett said there is a growing cohort of 'working poor' in the town, adding: “Banks are not lending as they should and there is a growing cohort being left to one side. Our young couples can’t afford rent and they can’t get a mortgage."
Cllr Michael Kilcoyne then proposed that 10 of the 64 units be designated as affordable. Cllr Blackie Gavin added an amendment for a bus and coach parking area, saying it would resolve ongoing parking issues at Davitt College.
However, Cllr Cyril Burke warned that amendments would delay the project by six to eight months as it would have to return to the Department. He also rejected the bus proposal, saying it would require students to cross a busy main road to go to a school some distance away from Lawn Road.
“It’s easy to know you’re not from the town,” Cllr Gavin replied.
Cllr Kilcoyne said the proposal had to go back to the Department regardless, adding that councillors could make changes to include affordable units. He said Westport had achieved this with the Golf Course Road site, where five out of 50 houses were allocated as affordable.
Area architect Matt Stephens said the process had been “a pain in the neck” and advised councillors that two other Castlebar sites were being examined for a total of 40 affordable units.
Director of Services David Mellett said allocating affordable homes was a housing issue, not a planning matter, and councillors were deciding only on planning permission at this time.
Cllr Ger Deere suggested approving the Part 8 now and seeking affordable units later. Mr Stephens said this approach had merit and still left the door open to including affordable homes at a later date for Lawn Road.
Cllr Kilcoyne called for a vote on his proposal that the current project be adopted subject to 10 houses being affordable.
Cllr Burke again warned that passing this could cause delays and said that Cllr Kilcoyne and Cllr Gavin, who seconded the proposal, “had a history” of doing this.
Cllr Gavin said he did not need Cllr Burke to “lecture him” because he was “from the town”.
Cllrs Michael Kilcoyne, Blackie Gavin, Harry Barrett voted for the amendment, but Cllrs Cyril Burke, Ger Deere, Donna Sheridan and Al McDonnell voted against it, meaning the original development was approved.
- Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
