PLANS to develop thirty-four voluntary social housing units in Castlefin moved a step closer to reality this week.
Habinteg Housing Association Ireland CLG is developing the units on Raphoe Road Castlefin at a cost of almost €6 million (€5,843,071).
Habinteg Housing Association is a local registered housing charity which was formed in Lifford in 2001 and which is responsible for and manages an award winning 53 unit development in Ballyduff Park, Lifford.
Dr Paul Armstrong, who has been involved as Chairman of Habinteg for 19 years since its inception and is currently Chief Executive Officer, and Packie Keeney, a long standing local board member, visited the site on Tuesday evening.
“Seeing this second project come to fruition will fulfil a key long term ambition for high quality sustainable voluntary social housing in the locality,” Dr Armstrong said.
The site was purchased by Habinteg in 2016 and had been lying partly developed for several years. “It is in an excellent location close to all amenities in Castlefin. The project will also be associated with upgrade works in Castlefin for other services.
Thanks
“Habinteg would like to thank all the individuals and agencies who put a lot of work into getting the project over this critical line, in particular staff in housing and design in Donegal County Council, staff in the HSE and MH Associates,” he added.
For a project of this scale, there are several stages in the approval process. Stage 2 is the critical step on procurement, cost and value for money and is the key step in accessing funding. It is planned to start construction in the second quarter of next year for completion in the third quarter of 2022.
Habinteg’s 53 unit development in Ballyduff Park, Lifford, was officially opened in 2008 by President McAleese. Plans for Castlefin started shortly after that and a huge amount of work and energy has gone into this project.
“As in Lifford, this development will provide lifetime standard housing options for individuals of all levels of ability along with families and the elderly. Allocation of units will be made in close conjunction with the Council,” Dr Armstrong said.
Approval for the development of 34 housing units was granted by Donegal County Council and the Department of Environment on Tuesday. The recommended budget is €5,843,071 for 34 units, fully funded under the Capital Assistance Scheme.
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