Clare County Council’s newest social housing development at Glór na Srutha, Knockbrack Lower, Clonlara, has been officially opened by Minister Paudie Coffey, Minister for Housing, Planning & Co-ordination of Construction 2020.
The scheme, comprising two-bed and three-bed units based on a single storey and two-storey grouping, has been 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 & M Keating Contractors, and featured a Design Team comprising Hassett, Leyden & Associates (Architects), Tom McNamara & Partners (Quantity Surveyors) and Moloney Fox (Mechanical & Electrical Consultants).
Minister Paudie Coffey was joined at today's official opening by Councillors, Council officials, members of the project team, the contractor, members of the local community and residents of Glór na Srutha.
Cllr. John Crowe, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council noted that the provision of the housing development, at a cost of €3.284m, brings the Council’s housing stock to 2,327 units, and represents a "significant step forward" in social housing provision in Clare.
He continued: "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. On behalf of the Council I wish to congratulate the contractors and design team for delivering the project on time and within budget."
According to Cllr. Gerry Flynn, Chair of the local authority's Housing Special Policy Committee: "Clare County 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."
"I encourage the residents of Glór na Srutha to work in tandem with the existing Residents Association of the nearby Derryvinna estate, to foster a community spirit and improve the physical environment of their community. The estate management unit within the Council's Housing section will continue to provide support for residents groups throughout the county including the residents of Glór na Srutha," added Cllr. Flynn.
Commenting on the design of the new scheme, Ruth Hurley, Senior Executive Architect, Clare County Council, said: "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 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.
The scheme, comprising two-bed and three-bed units based on a single storey and two-storey grouping, has been 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 & M Keating Contractors, and featured a Design Team comprising Hassett, Leyden & Associates (Architects), Tom McNamara & Partners (Quantity Surveyors) and Moloney Fox (Mechanical & Electrical Consultants).
Minister Paudie Coffey was joined at today's official opening by Councillors, Council officials, members of the project team, the contractor, members of the local community and residents of Glór na Srutha.
Cllr. John Crowe, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council noted that the provision of the housing development, at a cost of €3.284m, brings the Council’s housing stock to 2,327 units, and represents a "significant step forward" in social housing provision in Clare.
He continued: "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. On behalf of the Council I wish to congratulate the contractors and design team for delivering the project on time and within budget."
According to Cllr. Gerry Flynn, Chair of the local authority's Housing Special Policy Committee: "Clare County 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."
"I encourage the residents of Glór na Srutha to work in tandem with the existing Residents Association of the nearby Derryvinna estate, to foster a community spirit and improve the physical environment of their community. The estate management unit within the Council's Housing section will continue to provide support for residents groups throughout the county including the residents of Glór na Srutha," added Cllr. Flynn.
Commenting on the design of the new scheme, Ruth Hurley, Senior Executive Architect, Clare County Council, said: "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 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.
