Well attended co-housing meeting

A public meeting to discuss a possible co-housing initiative heard that there is no suitable Council-owned land in Kilcullen for such a project, writes Brian Byrne.

Around 20 people turned up to the meeting in Fallons last night, organised by James Brennan, to find out more about the possibility of a cooperative housing plan which could provide homes at an affordable price for those involved.

The concept follows that by the O Cualann Cohousing Alliance project in Poppintree in Dublin, which resulted in homes being built for between €160,000-€190,000 on land provided by the local authority.

James Brennan told those present that he had already been in discussion with Kildare County Council about the possibilities for a site, but the nearest suitable plot of land owned by the authority is in Athgarvan.

"It would be suitable for about 10 homes, and being just seven minutes from Kilcullen, that would be a reasonable compromise for those of us who want to stay in Kilcullen," he said.

The suggested site in Athgravan is in Mountain View. James Brennan noted that the Council did have other, larger sites in Newbridge and Kildare.

Last night's meeting was an exploratory one to gauge the level of interest in the project. Forms were circulated for anyone who wanted to be involved in further meetings.

The meeting heard that participants needed to be 'mortgage ready' just like buying any house, with a 10pc cash deposit available. The deposit money would be used by the housing alliance to commence building the homes, with the mortgages being drawn down as required in the usual way.

The O Cualann Cohousing project has 49 families involved, and the first five homes were handed over last July. All 49 will be occupied by September of next year. The houses are estimated to be about 30pc less expensive than similar in the normal market.

James Brennan told the meeting that an O Cualann representative believed their initiative 'could be replicated all around the country'.

Cllr Joanne Pender said she was 'hugely interested' in the idea, and had previously suggested that the Poppintree promoters be invited to talk to a meeting of the full Council.

"You have to be earning €90,000 a year to buy a house around here for €300,000," she noted. "This is the only way to get affordable housing for people who don't have that."

She suggested that it would make sense for the Council to buy land that was for sale and would be suitable for a larger number of participants in such a project.

James Brennan said it was part of the concept that those involved would already be a community before the project was completed. "That way you get to know your neighbours as it grows."

He thanked those who came along and promised that there would shortly be another meeting, at which representatives of the O Cualann project would be present to answer all questions on the furtherance of a similar scheme in the Kilcullen area.

Pictured are Eliza Dowling, Anthony Shannon, David Campbell, Siobhan Donegan, Sylvisia Stepniak, James Brennan, Clare Kelly and Caoimhe Wall.