13-unit social housing project for Offaly village

By David Power

Belmont village is set to get 13 new houses, with the first phase of the development to possibly be ready next year, the November meeting of Offaly County Council heard.

Director of services Sharon Kennedy told the meeting on Monday that the first phase of the development at Beechgrove Estate would see seven houses completed.

“This will provide much needed housing in the area in the next year, or the year after,” Ms Kennedy said.

“It is effectively an extension of the existing scheme there,” she said.

No submissions or observations were received during the Part 8 public consultation process on the development, Ms Kennedy told the meeting.

Seven single-story houses will be completed in phase 1, five of which will be 3-bedroom semi-detached. A further house will be a four-bedroom semi-detached one, while there will also be a three-bedroom semi-detached medical needs bungalow.

Phase 2 of the development will see a further six units completed, which will be 3-bedroom single-storey properties. All dwellings are being provided as social housing units to address the current housing need in Belmont, providing housing for a small percentage of those currently on the housing waiting list.

The single-storey specifically designed medical needs detached dwelling will address the specific need of a local family in the area.

The development will be accessed from the existing Beechgrove estate which is approximately 100 metres from the main village centre.

When both phases are finished, there will be 35 houses in the estate.