Minister opens new €3.2m Clonlara housing scheme

A new €3.284 million social housing development in Clonlara was officially opened by Housing Minister Paudie Coffey on Thursday morning.
Clare County Council’s newest social housing development at Glór na Srutha, Knockbrack Lower, Clonlara was unveiled by Minister Coffey in spite of heavy rain.
The minister took the opportunity to examine the houses and was with their overall energy efficiency and compliance with national building regulations.
The scheme, comprising two-bed and three-bed units based on a single storey and two-storey grouping, was developed to meet the social housing need in the Clonlara area.
All 12 units have been occupied since the development was completed in September 2014 by L and M Keating Contractors, and featured a design team comprising Hassett, Leyden and Associates Architects, Tom McNamara and Partners Quantity Surveyors and Moloney Fox Mechanical and Electrical Consultants.
The minister was joined at the official opening by chief executive officer, Tom Coughlan, councillors, council officials, members of the project team, the contractor, members of the local community and residents of Glór na Srutha.
Council chairman, Councillor John Crowe noted that the provision of the housing development brought the council’s housing stock to 2,327 units, and represented a “significant step forward” in social housing provision in the county.
“The design, accessibility and usability of this development are of the highest standard as evidenced by the “A” energy rating that the houses have achieved,” he said.
He congratulated the contractors and design team for delivering the project on time and within budget.
Housing special policy committee chairman, Councillor Gerry Flynn said the council strives to build communities and not just homes and I hope the residents will enjoy an exceptional quality of life within the Clonlara community.”
He encouraged the residents of Glór na Srutha to work in tandem with the existing Residents Association in the nearby Derryvinna estate with the support of the council’s estate management unit, to foster a community spirit and improve the physical environment of their community.
Council senior executive architect, Clare County Council noted the design reflects the development’s semi-rural scenic location with traditional pitched roofs and a large emphasis of shared open spaces consisting of hard and soft landscape.
In terms of energy efficiency, she notes these houses will be the most efficient design built by the Council to date with emphasis on passive heat gains, insulation and high energy efficiency.
“As an added benefit to local amenity, a new connection between the new housing scheme and the existing Derryvinna estate has provided a pedestrian route through to Knockbrack Lower road. This access is already being well used as a pedestrian connection to and from the local national school, other local neighbourhoods and it also links with the existing walking route amenity to the canal,” added Ms Hurley.
Glór na Srutha was financed by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government under the Social Housing Investment Programme.
Dan Danaher