Lios na Circe Phase 2

Description

The Development comprises the construction of 22 no. dwellings comprising 2, 3 & 4 bedroomed semi-detached and detached houses along with services connections to existing Public Foul & Storm Sewer & Utilities, all associated site development works, and landscaping associated with the development including all ancillary site works summarized as follows: – Construction of temporary access road and builder’s compound. – Construction of new development access road. – Construction of a temporary water crossing and culverting of existing stream traversing the site. – Site clearance & bulk excavation to reduce site levels generally including removal of existing trees and shrubs. – Redistribution of material excavated on site as well as removal of some material excavated from site to a licenced landfill facility. – Demolition of existing fencing to provide access to the site. – Construction of 22no new dwelling units, constructed as detached or semi-detached blocks comprising: – 3No. Blocks of Single Storey Semi Detached Units – (6 No. 2 Bed Units) – 3No. Two Storey Terraces – (7 x 3 Bed & 2 x 4 Bed Units) – 1No. Single Storey Detached 3 Bed Special Needs Unit. – 3No. Blocks of Two Storey Semi Detached Units – (6 x 2 Bed Units) – Construction of new sloping earthen embankments to rear and side gardens. – Construction of a mixture of plastered block walls, timber palisade and chain link fences to boundaries of the site. – Construction of Stonework boundary walls to the front of the houses – Construction of Blockwork boundary walls between gardens – Construction of Site development and surfacing works such as roads, paths and paving’s to tie into and continue the existing public roads and paths – New connections to public utilities for all units including Electricity, Telecoms, Water, Sewers, Storm drainage along with the provision of new street lighting and outlets for Electric Vehicle charging.

Aim of Initiative

Lios na Circe Phase 2 is a social housing development in Castlebar, designed and constructed as part of the 2017 – 2021 Housing Capital Programme and completed in 2024. The primary aim of the project was to provide much needed housing for Castlebar and its hinterland and to go some way towards reducing the waiting list of households, but also to provide a sustainable community with residents from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds.

Who is it aimed at

The project was aimed at meeting the needs of specific households who were identified by Mayo County Council and who had expressed an interest in living in Castlebar town – at the time the project design was initiated there had been 251 approved households on the Castlebar town waiting list for more than three years. In recent years, household formation has seen a decrease in family size in parallel with an increase in the numbers of older people; the tenure mix for Lios na Circe Phase 2 reflects this change with the inclusion of accommodation for small and mixed families alongside housing for older people and a house adapted for specific special needs.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Project Briefing and Design.
   Site appraisal, investigations, and surveys. Development of project brief based on housing needs, sustainable measures, connections to the existing community. Design of site layout and individual housing design. Cost estimates, submissions for departmental approval, planning permission.
2. Tender and Construction
   Detailed drawings, specifications, costings. Health & Safety Plan. Tender action and appointment of building contractor. Construction of the project including commissioning and snagging.
3. Handover and Occupation.
   Certification of the works. Occupation by the new residents. Induction process. Feedback.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Economic Challenge
   The site for the project, although well located in suburban Castlebar, proved costly to develop. The ground conditions were very soft with a depth of bog up to 9 metres in places meaning underground services and foundations proved costly to lay, requiring additional time and resources. Careful monitoring by the design team was needed throughout the design and construction phases to ensure the project costs did not spiral out of control and keep costs within the approved budget.
2. Physical Challenge
   Adverse weather conditions during the construction phase, and in particular heavy rains that caused flooding to the site, meant urgent action was needed to prevent disaster. 24-hour pumping and civil engineering relief measures were implemented with out-of-hours work provided by multiple dedicated parties over a period of weeks to save the works from flood damage.
3. Community Challenge
   This project involved connecting the new neighbourhood to an existing established neighbourhood with a strong community council and concerns about disruption to the status quo. Careful community engagement by Mayo Co Co was needed to agree to how the adjoining neighbourhoods would connect to make sure the best arrangements were available to create a sustainable and vibrant community for both existing and new residents, with carefully considered connections that avoided the promotion of anti-social behaviour.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Creation of a new, mixed tenure, sustainable community within walking distance of all the facilities of Castlebar town centre and direct access to public transport.
2. 22 new A-rated houses with private gardens and parking along arranged around a new shared public green.
3. A new safe pedestrian environment, both child-friendly and age-friendly, designed to foster inter-generational interaction and create a healthy community for the long-term.