This article is from page 9 of the 2014-05-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
CLARE County Council has been allocated € 368,000 under the Government’s Special Resolution Fund (SRF) for Unfinished Housing Developments.
The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government has approved the council’s application for funding to enable works to be undertaken at two local housing developments, namely the Aisling Estate on the Lahinch Road in Ennis and Bruachlan/An Grianan in Westbury.
Clare County Council says it will now commence a period of engagement with the relevant stakeholders at the locations concerned with a view to commencing works.
Mayor of Clare Councillor Joe Arkins welcomed the funding announcement, adding, “Engagement from all key stakeholders is critical to progressing the proposed resolution of these sites. I believe the funding enables Clare County Council to provide a solution to these unfinished estates which have been deteriorating over the past number of years and impacting negatively on the residents and the landscape in the area.”
Commenting on the background to the funding allocation, Bernadette Haugh, Administrative Officer, Planning & Enterprise, stated, “The successful application is part of the council’s ongoing focus on unfinished estates throughout the county. A team from the Planning & Enterprise section of the council has been focusing on this issue and will continue to work towards solutions on the many developments where difficulties are being experienced throughout the county.”
Ms Haugh explained that Clare County Council will now engage with the Bondholders AIB, NAMA and the owner of the land in relation to the Aisling site to agree how the proposed site resolution will be progressed. Similar discussions will be undertaken with Grant Thornton who are the appointed receivers in relation to the Westbury site.
“The drawdown of approved funding will commence immediately in order to advance the early execution of the works. Once the programme of works has been agreed Clare County Council will organise an information session with residents in the area of these development to outline how the proposed resolution process will proceed. The condition of the funding requires that the proposed works are completed by the end of 2014,” added Ms Haugh.