Up to 3,880 social and affordable homes are set to be delivered in County Cork under a new action plan.

These targets from Cork County Council and approved housing bodies cover the next five years, as outlined in the newly-published Housing Delivery Action Plan.

The plan aims to deliver 3,198 social housing homes and 682 affordable homes through direct build, turnkey and Part V arrangements. The plan will be subject to ongoing review to ensure it reflects changing needs as they arise. 

Over the period 2022 to 2026, Cork County Council plans to deliver a range of housing including mixed-tenure schemes, increase social housing stock and address important issues such as affordability and vacancy. 

The targets include the delivery of 560 social homes throughout the County by the end of this year. Projects are already underway in Carrigaline, Kinsale, Dunmanway, Bantry, Doneraile, Kilworth and Youghal among other locations.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Danny Collins said: "The Housing Delivery Action Plan is ambitious and sets out how social and affordable housing needs in County Cork will be met between now and 2026. The social housing target is almost one and a half times what is currently needed in County Cork. It also aims to address the need for suitable accommodation for those excluded from the private market and who do not qualify for social housing which is evident across the county. This shows Cork County Council's commitment to delivering social and affordable housing for the county and to playing our part in addressing this national challenge."

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Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey added: "The delivery of social and affordable housing is a key priority of the national Housing for All policy. We will be working closely with the Department of Housing and approved housing bodies to achieve the targets set out in our action plan. Our success to date has been through a combination of development on our own land as well as positive engagement with approved housing bodies and the construction sector. We intend to build on those relationships to maximise output and make a significant and positive impact upon the supply of social and affordable housing in Cork County."

It proposes affordable homes schemes on a number of sites in County Cork where demand has been identified. The dwellings will start to be available from 2023. Several of the schemes are planned on the Council's own land. 

Cork County Council is currently seeking expressions of interest in relation to affordable housing via an online survey. The results of the survey will inform future developments in areas where prospective affordable housing applicants have identified interest.

The Council is also seeking to enter advance purchase arrangements with builders and developers to deliver affordable homes with assistance from the Affordable Housing Fund.