Homes bought for N5 Mayo project should be resold to fund affordable housing
A MAYO councillor wants to see homes bought by CPO for the N5 Turlough - Westport road project put back out for sale, with the funds raised used to provide affordable housing.
Six properties were acquired by TII by compulsory purchase and elected representatives have been asking when they will come back into use as they are currently vacant.
Now Westport Councillor Peter Flynn has tabled a motion on their possible resale for this afternoon's (Monday) monthly meeting of Mayo County Council.
His motion asks management: 'In relation to all houses purchased by way of Compulsory Purchase Order as part of the Westport to Turlough N5 project, I am requesting the chief executive of Mayo County Council, in association with Transportation Infrastructure Ireland, to place them all on the open market with immediate effect.
'All proceeds from the sales should be allocated to the provision of affordable houses.'
A lengthy written response by the head of housing set out how the council has acquired the properties from TII for social housing provision.
Budget approval has been granted by the Department of Housing for the renovation of two properties whose purchase has been completed. Following standard procurement procedures total remediation works (including VAT) amount to €229,435 and €254,860 respectively and a contractor has commenced work on both sites. Therefore, it is not possible to place these on the open market.
An Approved Housing Body (AHB) that promotes inclusive and sustainable housing options for people with a disability is seeking to provide accommodation for people on the housing waiting list in relation to three of the remaining properties, one in Westport and two in Castlebar.
The AHB is undertaking preparatory work to enable the submission of a funding application to the department. If these three properties are not to be used for social housing as originally intended, the relevant AHB cannot progress the accommodation proposal.
If Mayo County Council places these properties on the open market, they will be required to pay TII their original market value regardless of the price obtained through the sale.
In respect of the final property, it is intended that Mayo County Council will use it for social housing, and it is to seek funding in the near future. If it is not to be used for social housing the proposed family identified by the Castlebar MD cannot be housed at this location as intended.
Passing the motion also had budgetary implications, the reply set out.
The prices negotiated by the council were less than the TII valuation in four of the six cases. It was agreed with TII that these would be utilised for social housing for a period of five years, and if any of the properties were disposed of within this period to any person or body other than a council tenant or an Approved Housing Body for the provision of social housing, then the council would pay TII the difference between the price that it paid for the properties and the value as advised by TII's valuers. This differential amounted to €350,000.
The report added that the proposed sale of the properties would represent a missed opportunity to deliver secure and appropriate housing for families and individuals, including those with a disability, who are currently awaiting secure long-term social housing support.
Retaining these properties for social use would enable the advancement of inclusive housing solutions and contribute meaningfully to addressing local housing needs.