Thursday, November 09, 2017

Co housing group public meeting next week

A public meeting has been scheduled in Kilcullen next week to establish the interest for setting up a housing cooperative project, writes Brian Byrne.

The Kilcullen Co Housing Group set up some months ago is hosting the meeting, which will be in Fallons on Thursday 16 November, beginning at 7.30pm.

Anyone who wants to indicate that they will attend can register their interest on the Group's Facebook page.

The Group has been researching the co-housing initiative of the O Cualann Cohousing Alliance in Poppintree, Co Dublin. In conjunction with Dublin City Council, the Alliance delivered affordable homes to its members ranging from €140,000 for a 2-bedroom unit to €199,000 for a 4-bedroom house.

The organisers of the Kilcullen initiative note that such co-housing projects, properly managed, can play a part in resolving Ireland's housing crisis.

With four in ten families looking for homes earning more than the threshold for social housing, but not enough to afford a bank mortgage, the concept of cooperative housing development offers an opportunity to many.

The Kilcullen Co Housing Group has already been in discussion with Kildare County Council, and has identified an initial site suitable for such a project. However, it is a small site, capable of only accommodating 8-10 houses. The Group is taking advice from the O Chulann Housing Alliance to see if this is a viable proposition.

Next week's meeting will provide an opportunity for interested parties to learn the criteria for involvement, and to compile a list of interested buyers.

The key requirement is that potential buyers must have a 10pc deposit of set property price and income or joint income must not exceed €79,000.