The country’s largest Approved Housing Body (AHB) closed on the purchase of two schemes, delivering almost 100 social houses across Galway and Cork.
In both cases, Clúid worked with a number of stakeholders to deliver high-quality, long-term housing solutions for people on local authority housing waiting lists.
“Our entire team is committed to delivering sustainable social housing solutions,” says Fiona Cormican, New Business Director at Clúid.
“For us to do that, we work with local authorities, developers, contractors, vendors, funders and a host of other stakeholders.”
It is this ability to work with a variety of agencies and businesses that has helped Clúid grow to be the largest AHB in Ireland, owning and managing over 6,800 units.
In Cork, Clúid worked with the City Council on the purchase of the Leeside apartments on Bachelor’s Quay. The four blocks, located at the heart of Cork City, have undergone a multi-million euro refurbishment following their vacation last year. Working together, Clúid and Cork City Council were able to turn the plan from idea to reality in a matter of months.
Private tenants in these apartments will benefit from Clúid’s management of common areas as their tenancy switches to the organisation and tenants in receipt of housing supports will become Clúid tenants.
James O’Halloran, New Business Manager at Clúid, said that the purchase represents a major milestone for the association.
“These units are finished to the highest standard and will provide people in Cork City with long-term, secure homes.
“Clúid has worked with Cork City Council to deliver these units in a matter of months and that is something we pride ourselves on – our ability to deliver in challenging circumstances while working with an array of stakeholders.
Brian Geaney, Director of Services for Housing at Cork City Council, paid tribute to Clúid Housing “for its professionalism, agility and commitment which were all necessary for the efficient delivery of a residential scheme of this scale in a city centre location”.
West Awake
Meanwhile in Galway, Clúid completed the purchase of 20 units at An Móinéar, Murrough in Renmore.
The scheme, which comprises of eight four-bed, ten three-beds and two two-bedroom homes, has a construction value of €6.4 million.
New Business Manager at Clúid, Antoinette Hayden said that working with authorities like Galway City Council was vital to Clúid’s aim of delivering 2,500 more homes over three years.
“We at Clúid are delighted to be working with Galway City Council and all other stakeholders in the delivery of these homes and will continue to work with local authorities, developers and other stakeholders to continue to deliver yet more housing..
“It is no secret that Ireland needs to deliver new homes. This development in Murrough shows how this can be achieved when stakeholders come together to do just that.”
Dermot Mahon, Acting Director of Services at Galway City Council said:
“We are pleased to be working on this scheme with Clúid Housing who will manage these units, helping the Council deliver homes in the city.
“We are confident that Clúid will provide high-quality homes for life to tenants.”
Always looking
For Cormican, the delivery of 98 units is satisfying, but she says that doesn’t mean the work has stopped.
“To meet the ambitious targets we have set ourselves, we must always be looking at new sites, new schemes and new opportunities.
“For us, that means having a willingness and ability to work with everyone from local authorities, to developers, to central government. And that in turn means being flexible, agile but most of all, being able to deliver – something Clúid has proven itself capable of time and again.”
It is that attitude which Clúid is hoping will turn a big month into a big year. Or three.
