Bundoran’s 42 new housing units - Contractor’s letter of intent issued

A contractor for the building of 42 new social housing units at  Gort na Gréine, Drumacrin in Bundoran is expected to be announced within weeks and they should be onsite sometime in July, members of the Donegal Municipal District (MD) were told at their monthly meeting today.

Tara Quinn, Executive architect said that the letter of intent to the successful contractor had been issued, with insurances and bonds being checked before a formal appointment in the coming weeks and the necessary legal protocols being adhered to.

Cllr Michael McMahon (SF) told the paper that this was a good news story for Bundoran. 

“The appointment of a contractor is very welcome. The housing crisis in Donegal and Ireland at the moment has been well flagged and this can only be described as fantastic news.

“It has been a long time coming, and has been sought for the last number of years. 

“It will not solve the housing problem in town, but it will certainly put a big dent for those people that have been looking for houses.

He hoped that the contractor that would be appointed would be local to Donegal and that subcontractors in the area would also benefit “because of the high unemployment rate in our area and Donegal in general”.

It was a comment that was supported by Cllrs Barry Sweeny (FG) and Cllr Micheál Naughton (FF). 

Cllr McMahon added: “You can't complain when you are getting forty houses built but there will be a situation where we will have to look at the traffic management situation, to make sure that things are run in a proper fashion and that there is engagement with locals, so they are not disrupted or impeded in anyway.”      

He said that on the local area development plan, they were also looking at an access road at the top of the new housing estate, that would link over towards the cinema direction and Station Road. 

Donegal County Council say that the construction of 42 social housing units will comprise of 20 two-bed apartments in 7, two storey blocks; 9 two bed 2 storey houses; 9 three-bed 2-storey houses, 3 four-Bed 2-storey houses; 1 six-bed (specially adapted) 2-storey house and all associated site development works including foul drain pumping station with rising main, stormwater attenuation system and controlled pedestrian crossing point.

No official build time was mentioned at the meeting but build estimates from 18 months up to 24 months have been mentioned.