Connacht Tribune
Contract awarded for Ahascragh housing development by Galway County Council
Galway County Council has confirmed that works to re-develop an existing social housing estate at Bridge Court, Ahascragh are due to commence on 4th April next. The milestone was marked with a sod-turning event on site by the Cathaoirleach Mr. Peter Keaveney and fellow Councillors from the Ballinasloe Municipal District.
Galway County Council, in conjunction with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, commenced the project with the appointment of a multi-disciplinary design team led by Vincent Hannon Architects. The project was progressed through design & planning stages during which environmental issues were identified and addressed as part of the proposals. A Natura Impact Assessment was completed, and a planning application was made to An Bord Pleanála in September 2020.
Cathaoirleach Peter Keaveney with fellow Councillors Michael Connolly, Tim Broderick, Declan Geraghty and Galway County Council Project Engineer John Kearns.
Planning permission was granted in May 2021 and the project progressed through detailed design, culminating in the completion of a competitive tender process by year end.
With ongoing support from the Department, the contract for construction was awarded by Galway County Council on 16th March 2022 to C. & N. Higgins Construction Ltd. of Caltra, Ballinasloe.
Valued at €4m, the Project is fully funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the national housing plan ‘Housing for All – a New Housing Plan for Ireland’.
Proposals include demolition of 10 no. existing houses and replacement with 12 no. new houses. The remaining 6 no. existing houses will undergo complete retrofit & renovation. All houses will include air-to-water heat pump systems providing major enhancements supporting climate action and dramatically reducing running costs.
Attending at the sod-turning, the Cathaoirleach welcomed C. & N. Higgins Construction Ltd. as a stakeholder and wished them every success in the safe and successful completion of the construction works. He congratulated those involved in bringing the project to fruition; including fellow elected members, Vincent Hannon & Associates, and staff at the Council’s Housing Section lead by Liam Hanrahan Director of Services.
The Cathaoirleach noted that the project will result in a dramatically revamped Bridge Court estate offering a total of 18 no. A2 rated homes coming on stream in July 2023. It will contribute towards addressing the social housing demand in the area and will complement the village of Ahascragh in a positive way.
Galway County Council is progressing a range of projects and initiatives to address social and affordable housing demand in Co. Galway under ‘Housing for All – a New Housing Plan for Ireland’. The Council acknowledged the support of the Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage Mr. Darragh O’Brien TD, and his Department, and thanked them for their continuing commitment to housing construction in Galway.