Cork North West General Election candidate Councillor John Paul O’Shea has confirmed this week that plans by Cork County Council to purchase and refurbish nine houses in Churchtown are at an advanced stage.
“Following a recent visit to Churchtown, I contacted Cork County Council about its plans for a number of the vacant properties in the village. It was confirmed to me that the Council is progressing plans to purchase nine properties and advertise them through its Choice-Based Letting (CBL) website.
“This includes six vacant properties in Bruhenny, which are being progressed as turnkey housing projects. The Council has stated that these transactions will be completed in the coming weeks.
“Three further properties – two in Egmont Place and one in Radharc Na Sleibhte – have been sent for Compulsory Purchase Order under the Buy and Renew Scheme.
“The Council has informed me that once the properties in Bruhenny have been placed on CBL, they will be informed of the true housing need in the Churchtown area. If the need dictates that there is further interest for properties in the area, the Council will proceed to look at other similar vacant properties in the village.
“Altogether this is very positive news and it means that nine houses will be refurbished and made into family homes for nine families in the North Cork area. As well as the need to build new houses, which is been driven by Rebuilding Ireland, there is a need to ensure that we bring currently vacant properties back into use and I will continue to work with Fine Gael and with Cork County Council to ensure that this continues to take place right across Cork North West,” Cllr. O’Shea said.
