*Photograph: John Mangan
ENNIS 2040 DAC has “a role to play” in tackling the shortage of private housing developments in the county town.
A shortage of housing is restricting the economic growth of Ennis, acting Chief Operating Officer of Ennis 2040 DAC, Padraic McElwee outlined this week.
200 houses is the target for the Claureen Lands with the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) and the opening up of lands bringing the potential for 500-600 houses according to a senior official in Clare County Council.
Since his temporary appointment, the waters for Ennis 2040 have become less choppy with a decision made to scrap to pause planned developments on the riverside car parks of Abbey Street and Parnell Street plus a renewed focus on housing.
“Where I see the focus for Ennis 2040 is to diversify our economic base, to enhance our retail offering, increase the footfall and compliment what we already have,” McElwee stated in a briefing to county councillors. AIB Insights have indicated that the spend in Ennis is below the national average.
Ennis’ economic growth has been hindered by a shortage of private housing developments, he said. “Enhanced residential accommodation is very important, we are hearing of a shortage of private housing developments, I believe Ennis 2040 has a role to play in that”. Development of affordable, accessible, sustainable and housing of all tenures is to be explored by the DAC, he said.
€210,000 has been the spend to date by Ennis 2040 DAC on plans to open up the Claureen Lands for housing. This is comprised of 2.2 acres of development lands “which will enable the release of lands to the develop the LIHAF road for which funding is in place. The LIHAF road will open up lands for development, we have agreed to purchase over 21 acres of development land which is subject to planning, that will depend from 120-280 houses, it will focus on delivery of private housing to meet private market demand.
Developing a masterplan for the Claureen Lands is a priority focus at present, he said.
Care needs to be applied when the public sector or Government enters the private market place, Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) cautioned. “The risks associated with that in terms of distortion and the market place, it is a risky area, we are bordering on speculation on house building, we don’t have to be reminded of the entire country’s experience, what are the guard rails around the risk of us distorting the market”.
McElwee said the masterplan for the Claureen Lands will advise “what makes sense” and whether there is a greater risk on going solo or bringing in a partner.
Acting Director of Economic Development with the Council, Seán Lenihan said the concept “of LIHAF is money used to stimulate housing, we were very lucky to get a grant, the original grant was conditional on us bringing in a partner, we couldn’t do it on our own, it was always a partnership process, great credit is due to the Interim Chief Executive for keping the project alive. It was supposed to be finished in 2021, we are only one of the local authorities to keep it alive”.
Lenihan continued, “200 odd houses is the original proposal, once the road is in and it opens up the other lands available, we should have up to 500-600 houses and a community project”.
An altered focus of Ennis 2040 has been broadly welcomed, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said. “The move to housing is is very important. The pause has given a new lease of life to Ennis 2040, there was fierce controversy over many years because of proposed buildings, people were annoyed, 98% of Ennis never wanted it,” he remarked of the paused plans in Abbey Street and Harvey’s Quay.
