Tenants settle in at new Portlaoise social housing scheme

TENANTS are settling in at a new social housing development in Portlaoise, provided by approved housing body Respond.

The 12 A-rated homes at An Lochán, Summerhill were constructed in partnership with Laois Co Council for people on the housing waiting list.

The properties were funded through a combination of private finance from the Housing Finance Agency and a Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) loan from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Constructed with a prefabricated timber frame and a brick/block external skin, a less common practice in Ireland for apartments, Respond said that the Portlaoise scheme ‘demonstrates how to do this successfully in Ireland’.

All units are energy-efficient and each has a private back garden.

Tenant Mark Holohan, who moved into one of the Summerhill homes within the past two months, said: “I find it great, I love it. It’s finished to a very high standard and I can’t say anything wrong about it. It’s nice and quiet and there isn’t a lot of traffic, so noise is quite low.

“It’s also very helpful to be able to go straight to a Tenant Relations Officer and if I have any problems he gets it sorted. My Tenant Relations Officer has been great since I moved in.” 

Respond spokesperson Niamh Randall said today that a collaborative effort brought the project to life.

She said: “Summerhill is not just about building homes, it’s about providing long-term housing options that help people put down roots and build a future. 

“The partnership with Laois Co Council has been key to delivering this development and we are very grateful for the continued support of our funding partners, including the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Finance Agency and The Housing Agency.” 

She added that Respond’s Tenant Experience team “is there to offer support, answer questions and help people feel at home” from the moment they move in.

She commented: “We want every tenant to feel welcomed and connected, not just to their new home but to their wider community.” 

The new houses are a short walk from four primary schools on the Summerhill Campus and about two kilometres from the centre of Portlaoise. A new site has been acquired by the Department of Education for the new 1,000-pupil Dunamase College secondary school, to be built on the same ring road.

The estate is serviced by bus route number two, which runs every 30 minutes. It is also close to amenities such as shops, restaurants and sports facilities.

The private housing estate contains just over 90 properties of a variety of sizes and styles, with seven homes made available last year through the Affordable Purchase Scheme.