Mayo housing project shortlisted for national awards

THE people of Mayo are being encouraged to vote local in the Community Housing Awards, run by the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH). The programme is designed to reward innovation and sustainability in public housing in urban and rural areas across the country.

Thirty-one nominees from around Ireland have made the shortlist for eight individual categories that span all aspects of effective community housing projects and each nominee is also eligible for the Public Choice Award.

In Mayo, the selected nominee is Carnacon / Family Housing: Small / Mayo County Council.

Members of the public can vote for their chosen Public Choice award nominee here. Voting will close on October 13 at 23.59.

The ICSH is the national representative federation for approved housing bodies (AHBs) in Ireland. The Public Choice Award is an opportunity for communities to get behind local teams and show their pride in their neighbourhoods.

The winner will be announced as part of the overall awards ceremony at the ICSH National Housing Conference in Cavan on 15.

In 2019 the community of Carnacon approached Mayo County Council with a proposal that they hoped would address the problem of population decline in their small rural village. This was the genesis of a collaborative project resulting in nine family homes clustered around a shared public green on a 0.82 hectare greenfield site (provided by the local church).

The completed dwellings include five 2-bedroom dormer units and four 3-bedroom dormer units.

The development is located within the residential area of the village, beside the primary school and community centre. All village amenities are immediately accessible via publicly lit footpaths.

The houses are accessible and incorporate age-friendly features. Air source heat pumps provide heating and hot water to all houses, which achieve an A2 BER rating.

Existing mature beech trees around the perimeter of the site have been preserved, alongside new native hedgerow planting. Sustainability site measures include on-site foul waste bio-treatment and surface water attenuation with natural filtration into the surrounding landscape.