Construction BUSINESS

Expressions of interest are sought for three social housing developments in Cork City.

Cork City Council has issued three tenders for the delivery of a quality social housing solutions at Grattan Street, Skehard Road, and Woods Street as part of Cork City Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan under the Government’s Housing for All – a New Housing Plan for Ireland.

The 2.32 acres site at Skehard Road has a capacity for at around 100 residential units, the 0.20 acres site at Grattan Street has a capacity of at least 32 residential units and the 0.15 acres Woods Street site has a capacity for at least 16 residential units, depending on planning consent.

The Council is seeking to identify the best solution for the delivery of the housing development including financing, overall design, and detailed planning of the project, obtaining planning permission, developing the Site and delivery of a residential solution in accordance with the aims set out above and in a timely efficient manner to a quality standard, compliant with all statutory requirements.

A high-level aim of these competitions is to champion best practice, efficient and cost-effective design and innovative financial and technical solutions for quality accommodation solutions.  The most important criteria being cost effective design, quality, and sense of place, given Cork City Council intends to purchase the social housing units.

In any solution proposed, the housing must be finished to a quality standard and must meet compliance with NZEB energy requirements. The Council requires an innovative and cost-effective approach to design and delivery on this housing development. All construction technologies will be considered, which can include the use of offsite construction. Design, Construction and Financing innovation models which can deliver cost reductions are encouraged and will form part of the evaluation criteria.

Responses to each tender are due by 23 September 2024 with an award expected in February.

Last week the council announced it is proposing a partnership with JCD Group to deliver a substantial cost-rental apartment scheme on the former Carey’s Tool Hire site on Albert Quay. ‘The Railyard Apartments’ will deliver 217 much-needed new homes at the heart of the city Docklands, consisting of a mix of studios, 1,2 and 3 bedroom units.

The scheme will consist of a landmark, slender 24 storey tower built to a high architectural standard on Albert Quay/Albert Street, which will step down to 12 storeys and then 9 storeys.

The proposed mixed tenure cost-rental and social housing development, to include rightsizing homes for older persons, is progressing through the Part 8 Planning process which includes public consultation and will be put forward for the approval of the elected members of Cork City Council later in the Autumn.

The Railyard Apartments development is a collaboration between Cork City Council and JCD Group and arises from Cork City Council’s Competitive Dialogue procurement process which seeks to deliver innovative solutions to social and affordable housing delivery in the city. Cork City Council proposes to partner with an approved housing body for the ultimate delivery of this mixed tenure scheme. If planning is granted on the development, construction is expected to start in Q1 2025.