Appeal for swift 200-house build on Mayo county town site

An elected member of Mayo County Council has called for the planned 200-home development at Knockthomas in Castlebar, known locally as ‘Kenny’s Field’, to be built in one single phase and to start without delay.

Councillor Harry Barrett elaborated: “At the moment, the plan is to build these homes in stages over several years. That approach no longer makes sense.

"We’re in the middle of a housing emergency, and people in Mayo cannot wait ten years for these homes.”

Councillor Barrett said there are now almost 225 people homeless across County Mayo, with many of them from the Castlebar area.

He believes that speeding up the Knockthomas project would make a real difference to families stuck in temporary accommodation in Charlestown, or those struggling to find a home.

“Building this estate in one go would give us 200 much-needed homes quickly. It would ease pressure on our housing list in Castlebar, reduce homelessness, and give families some hope,” he said.

He added: “Mayo County Council has proven it can deliver good-quality estates, but the system of phased building is far too slow for the level of demand that now exists.

“I'm not talking solely about council houses I am talking about affordable homes and cost rental as well.

“I’ll be asking my colleagues on Mayo County Council to support a call to the Minister for Housing to allow this project to go ahead in one single phase.

‘We have the plans, we have the site, and we have the need. What we lack is the urgency. Let us see if the Minister can match our ambitions."