Social housing agency to take control of 80 new homes

Galway City Council has allowed three more years for the completion of more than 80 new social housing units off the Headford Road.

The Respond housing agency will be entirely responsible for Phase 2 of the Caireal Mór estate – which involves the construction of 84 residential units in a total of eight blocks and a total of 118 new parking spaces.

Planning permission was originally granted in 2009 for Phase 2 to then owner Joe Joyce – permissions expire after a period of five years.

However, a five-year Extension of Duration under emergency planning legislation – designed to increase housing supply without the delays of a further planning application – was granted, which brought the permission up to the end of January 2019.

The new owners of the site, Gary and Caroline McTigue of Emerald Evolutions Ltd in Tuam, subsequently sought a further extension of time – which can be granted where there are more than 20 housing units involved and substantial works have already taken place – and the project has now been approved until the end of December 2021.

The plans involve the construction of 14 one-bed apartments, 44 two-bed townhouses and 26 three-bed townhouses in 8 two and three-storey blocks, as well as 26 new basement and 92 new surface parking spaces.

According to the Council’s planning assessment, there is already substantial work on the site, including a compound being set up, hoarding and fencing erected; the site has been levelled and work has begun on 30 of the units.

“The proposed housing development is to be delivered and managed by an approved housing body, namely Respond,” according to documents submitted to the Council.

Phase 2 will increase the total number of units in Caireal Mór to 182.

Emerald Evolutions Ltd was originally set up as Autopark Motors Ltd in 2013 to be a motor dealership, and its name was formally changed in 2017.

The McTigues also operate Elite Oil Products and McTigue Quarries.