Kelly plays housing plan trump card
A LOCAL developer is committed to delivering 643 new houses on two sites in Nenagh that will provide a massive housing boost in North Tipperary.
Local TD Alan Kelly has been working with Whitebox Developments on getting the planned houses at Dromin Road and Tyone across the line. He said the Whitebox commitment - the biggest in Tipperary in well over a decade - will be transformational for efforts to tackling the housing demand in Nenagh and surrounding areas over the coming years.
Critically also, the overall €235m investment will involve the development of a new nursing home as well in the town. The housing commitment involves plans to develop 307 houses on Dromin Road, comprising 255 private and 52 social houses in a €110m investment, which will be built in four phases.
Some 336 houses are planned to be built in Tyone, comprising 179 private, 90 affordable and 67 social. Work on the 67 social houses and the new nursing home, also in Tyone, will commence in December, with Carroll O’Keefe Construction Ltd appointed as builders. These houses are being built for use by the Respond Housing Body. The €20m new private nursing home will comprise 80 beds.
ABSOLUTE PRIORITY
Announcing the development, Deputy Kelly said: “Housing is one of the great crises facing our country today and for me personally, tackling this is an absolute priority.
Across the general election campaign, it has been right up there along with health, policing and cost of living as a key issue.
“Nenagh and the wider region is no different to anywhere else in that housing is a massive problem for so many young people, young families, single parents and more. We have people having to live with their parents right into their late 30s and early 40s, including couples with young families. That’s because we haven’t enough houses and the shortage of houses drives up prices.
“That’s why I’ve been working hard on this project and, indeed, others across the county and I’m absolutely delighted that these two Nenagh developments, comprising 643 houses in total and a nursing home, are being planned and will be brought to fruition, with work on the first phase starting as early as next month.”
PHASED DEVELOPMENTS
Deputy Kelly added: “These developments will be built in phases over the next number of years and will transform the housing stock of Nenagh and wider region. This is the biggest single commitment in well over a decade to housing in Nenagh, and if returned to Dáil Éireann on Friday, I will make it a priority to deliver more projects like these in our towns and villages.
“While this was not timed for the election, it is very timely as it illustrates to the people of this county that I can deliver where others are failing. I’ve been able to do that in opposition, so the opportunity now beckons for me to do much more as Labour intends to be in government and, if elected and the numbers work, I intend to be part of that government. That’s the big opportunity for me as if we are in government, I will be able to do more than ever for my county.”
Deputy Kelly paid tribute to Martin White of Whitebox Developments and William Talbot of Sherry Fitzgerald Talbot for making this happen. “It’s been a delight to be able to support Martin and Whitebox on this project. They came here with a commitment to invest and needed our support. We gave them that and they’ve been true to their word.
“This would not have happened either without William Talbot of Sherry Fitzgearld Talbot, who has worked tirelessly on the project.
“This really is a great day for Nenagh and the wider region.”
who are renting and can’t afford to save for a mortgage because this, too, aims to provide affordable housing for them.”
MULTI-MILLION INVESTMENT
Martin White said: “I’m delighted to be in a position to invest over €200m in housing and the elderly care in Nenagh. It is a fantastic town with so many industries and businesses and there is huge demand from within and outside the town for housing.
“We in Whitebox Developments believe in not just building houses, we believe in building communities. I’d like to thank Alan Kelly TD for helping to build such a fantastic town and also to him and William Talbot for all their help and support over the last year to get us to this day.”
Nenagh auctioneer William Talbot of Sherry Fitzgearld Talbot said: “We are delighted to be involved in these schemes which will provide essential housing for the people of Nenagh and the surrounding areas. I would like to thank Martin White for his massive investment in the town. I’d also like to thank Alan Kelly TD who worked tirelessly to make this happen and was always available to take our calls and attend numerous meetings.”