Plans for a social and affordable housing development in the West Waterford village of Ardmore have suffered a setback after the Department of Housing decided the scheme’s costs were too high to subsidise. Dublin-based Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance received permission last September to construct 31 homes on a council-owned 1.47 hectare site at Farrangarret, at the village’s perimeter. The hillside site is owned by Waterford City and County Council and the scheme was a joint venture between Ó Cualann, the council and the local Ardmore Grange Housing Group. Following the department’s refusal to consolidate the costs, the council cancelled Ó Cualann’s participation in favour of developing the site in-house. Ardmore Grange Housing Group spokesman Dick Lincoln estimates over €250,000, including €30,000 raised by his group, has been spent on pre-construction works.

Source: Irish Examiner September 11, 2023 04:39 UTC