Developers 'hinder' Council purchasing of land for housing

Chief Executive reports states approved housing bodies would provide a total of 420 houses for the county

The difficulty faced by Meath County Council in purchasing land needed for housing was highlighted at a meeting of the County Council when councillors heard that the local authority had strong competitions from developers.

The subject was raised during a discussion on the Council chief executive Jackie Maguire’s monthly report in which pointed out that the Council had made a call for proposals for the supply of development sites or completed housing schemes that were fit for purpose for social housing within the county.

Within the report, the chief executive said that “approved housing bodies” would provide a total of 420 houses in Navan, Dunboyne, Drogheda, Bettystown, Ashbourne, Slane, Enfield, Dunshaughlin, Trim. The housing bodies concerned were Tuath (132 houses), Co-operative housing (16), Cluid (153), Respond (63), Oaklee Housing (28), Peter McVerry Trust (20), Meath Women’s Refuge (8).

A large increase in planning applications was noted in the period from January to May this year. The Council got 1,046 applications in that period compared to 669 in the same period last year.

Independent Cllr Nick Killian opened a debate, saying that the CE’s report was “a good news report”, and welcomed the fact that 96 houses were to be provided at Dunshaughlin in addition to social housing at Dunboyne. However, he said that he was very concerned about a report in the Sunday Business Post predicted a shortage of land for housing in the county.

Fianna Fail Cllr Tom Behan welcomed the fact that a long-awaited refurbishment scheme was going ahead at Alverno Court in Laytown. Director of Services for Housing, Community and Cultural Development Barry Lynch outlined how the Laytown refurbishment was included in an 18-month contract and the houses there would be upgraded in batches.

He said that in the Council’s search for serviced sites, it was a fact that the price of land nearer to the Dublin border was higher than elsewhere in Meath. One problem faced by the Council in seeking land for housing was that owners of land that was unzoned were looking for “multiples” of the normal price for what was essentially agricultural land.

A review of the Government’s Serviced Sites Fund was under way and they would have to see what came out of that. The Council had a number of “infill sites” throughout the county, he said.

Mr Lynch also said that “great progress has been made” on social housing sites throughout the county in the last year to 18 months.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Sean Drew said that housing was the number one issue in the chief executive’s report.