Housing association is on track to triple the number of social housing and rental apartments under construction
Approved housing authority Respond is on track to triple the number of social housing and rental apartments under construction to over 4,100 in the coming months, it said.
The organization's construction program is set to expand to €2 billion next year as it has secured fixed-price deals with a number of leading developers and contractors to build large, mixed-use housing projects in Dublin and Ireland, with the support of local authorities in Cork, it said.
“With government support, the organization could deliver 700 of these new homes this year and another 900 by the end of 2024,” it said in a statement. “There are currently 1,396 social and rental housing projects under construction across the country as part of the Respond housing program.”
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The organisation's annual report for 2022, due to be presented by Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien on Tuesday, will detail the ongoing positive impact of Respond's housing and community support services in cities across Ireland, it said.
“Respond has begun construction of 3,347 homes since March 2018 and now manages 7,084 properties housing 16,541 tenants. Despite rising costs in the construction sector, 484 new social and low-cost rental apartments were delivered last year alone, and construction of a further 460 apartments began.”
The organization's projects include the final completion of large mixed housing developments in Charlestown, Finglas (138 apartments) and Enniskerry Road, Stepaside (155 apartments). Work is also underway on a Long Mile Road project which, when completed later this year, will offer 153 homes, the organization said.
The facility purchases land and finances construction through fixed-price contracts, with 85 percent of its development projects being construction-managed. According to Respond, this model enables savings of up to 60,000 euros per unit compared to a home acquisition model.
“Our annual report details the ongoing efforts and commitment of our development and housing teams to meet the urgent need for more social and cost-rent housing across the country and to support the government's Housing for All strategy,” said a Speaker of Response.
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“Our focus is on expanding the national housing stock and the fixed-price contracts we have agreed with several developers mean that with government support we could quickly triple the number of social and rental housing projects under construction to 4,100.” are large-scale development projects that will provide the much-needed number of homes while building inclusive, long-term and sustainable communities.”
The spokesman said the locations are ideally located in the state's largest cities and close to amenities such as schools, parks, public transportation and shopping malls.
