Tullow social housing sold on private market

CARLOW Co Council has blamed ‘rising costs’ for almost half the new homes in a social housing estate in Tullow being converted to private sale. News emerged last week that the Foran’s Way development – originally planned as entirely social housing ‒ had properties listed on the private market.

The development, which was built by Wexford-based developers BHA Construction, will now provide just 26 homes for social housing, managed by the approved housing body Cooperative Housing Ireland, with the remaining 22 sold privately.

In a statement released to councillors last week, Carlow Co Council chief executive Coilín O’Reilly said that to make the ‘costs and the overall project viable’, 22 of the 48 units had to be converted to private sale, with the council receiving the remaining 26 units.

‘Obviously, we would like to provide all 48 for social use, but with construction cost increases, this became less viable and it was important to ensure some form of social delivery,’ Mr O’Reilly wrote.

Mr O’Reilly added that while the news was ‘disappointing from a social housing delivery perspective in Tullow’, the council’s overall delivery in the municipal district ‘remains very strong’.

Mr O’Reilly apologised for the lack of communication with elected representatives, saying the council ‘only became aware of this in recent weeks’ and had been caught out by the speed that these properties went on private sale.

In a social media post reacting to the statement, independent councillor for Tullow Municipal District William Paton said he was ‘very disappointed’ by the news and could not understand why, as an elected representative, he was not given the information before the developer listed the houses for sale on the private market.

‘I am even more disappointed for the people on the Tullow housing list who had their hopes built up. Please accept my sincere apologies in this matter,’ he added.

Meanwhile, a protest has been called by People Before Profit councillor Adrienne Wallace at 6pm this evening (Tuesday), outside the entrance to Foran’s Way. Cllr Wallace said the “incredulous turn of events” raises a lot of serious questions, such as how there is not a contract in place ensuring commitments are adhered to.

Cllr Wallace also questioned the council’s reasoning for the change. “According to the local authority, the change has come about due to rising costs; however, inflation is not a new phenomenon and surely any diligent developer would include such costs in their estimates,” she said.

The six councillors of Tullow MD met council officials last Friday to discuss the issue. However, as it is an in-committee meeting, details have not yet emerged.

There are currently about 130 people on the housing list in the Tullow Municipal District.

In a statement to The Nationalist, Cooperative Housing Ireland said: ‘We are working in partnership with BHA and Carlow County Council to deliver social-rental housing in Tullow. Last year we delivered 918 homes throughout Ireland and we are on target to exceed this in 2026. We work constructively with a variety of partners to deliver as many social-rental affordable homes as possible.’ 

BHA Construction was approached for comment but did not reply.