A local representative has raised concerns in relation to the affordability of new housing at Kilcarbery Grange. People Before Profit Councillor Madeleine Johansson made the comments following an update on the project at the January council meeting. The site, which was sold by the council to private developer Adwood in 2018, was previously in public ownership.
The update provided by council officials showed that the discounted units will be sold at a price of approximately €260 000. A household would have to earn €60 000 per annum in order to obtain a mortgage (even under the new Local Authority Home Loan scheme). The income threshold to access social housing for a couple is €36 750.
The Kilcarbery Grange development is currently under construction with the initial homes to be completed in mid-2022. The development will consist of 600 private homes, 310 social homes, 74 cost rental homes and 50 affordable homes.
Councillor Madeleine Johansson commented: “I’m very concerned that there is a large cohort of individuals and families who continue to fall between two stools when it comes to housing. They earn too much to qualify for social housing but earn to little to get a mortgage to buy an affordable home.
“In January 2021 I proposed a motion to remove income limits for social housing to create a one-tier housing system for everyone. This is very common in other European countries and help promote sustainable mixed communities. Unfortunately, there is no political will to seriously address the ongoing housing crisis.
“I voted against the selling off of lands in Kilcarbery, and if the council had developed this site itself we could have had a much higher quantity of social homes, as well as real affordable housing.”
