Galway City Council pulls the plug on social housing building site

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Construction work on 58 new homes in Ballybane stopped this week after the contract was terminated – blowing a hole in Galway’s new social housing targets.

Galway City Council has confirmed to the Galway City Tribune that it has parted ways with Glenman Corporation, the contractor involved in building Garraí Beag Social Housing Project at Rocklands Avenue off the Monivea Road.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “Galway City Council has exercised its right to terminate Glenman Corporation’s obligation to complete the works as defined in the contract on the Garraí Beag Social Housing Project, in accordance with Clause 12 of the building contract. A Notice of Termination was served on Glenman Corporation on Tuesday, June 21”.

Under Clause 12 of the contract, seen by the Galway City Tribune, there are a dozen reasons given as to why the Council could terminate the contract relating to performance of the contractor.

The Council did not clarify which section of Clause 12 of the contract it was using to terminate it.

“No further comment will be made at this time for legal reasons,” it added. This is the latest setback to hit the development, which includes a mixture of four-bed, three-bed and two-bed houses, as well as duplex units and one and two bed apartments.

It originally was due to be finished in November 2021, but Covid-19 delayed the project. It was also beset with contractual issues, which were highlighted previously in this newspaper.

This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the rest of the story, see the June 24 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.