Pairc Na Cille, Weir Road, Tuam

Description

“Don’t look for big things, just do small things with great love. The smaller the thing, the greater must be your love” – Mother Teresa

What makes these units is a number of small, effective & cost neutral items during the design and construction that will have a major impact on the user of the house. Examples of these items are:

1. Internal door openings all 900mm wide (standard door openings are 762mm wide)
2. Head board above internal doors are timber framed and plastered – In the event the tenant needs lifting adds this will reduce the building works associated with their installation
3. Level access at both front and back doors (Standard is to have only one level access)
4. Wet rooms with level access showers and provision of handrails if needed
5. Hard landscaping (Paving stones) instead of grass to reduce maintenance.
6. Raised planter provided for persons with mobility issues
7. Open plan kitchen, dining and living spaces
8. Secure and reliable broadband connection
9. Non-slip flooring in wet areas
10. Gossip walls for social interaction
11. Higher lighting standards for visual impaired persons

These features not only make a home safer but also help maintain independence and improve the quality of life for older adults.

Aim of Initiative

The aim of a housing development is multifaceted, focusing on creating efficient, accessible, and sustainable living environments. Here are some key objectives:
Addressing Housing Needs: Providing affordable and adequate housing for various income levels, including low-income families.
Community Building: Developing cohesive communities with access to essential services and amenities.
Urban Planning: Ensuring the efficient use of land and resources, integrating residential areas with commercial and recreational spaces.
Economic Development: Stimulating local economies by creating jobs and attracting investments.
Sustainability: Implementing eco-friendly practices and technologies to reduce environmental impact.
Social Equity: Promoting equal access to housing and reducing social discrimination.
These goals help create vibrant, inclusive, and resilient community.
Galway County Council publish on their website the housing needs within their administrative area: https://www.galway.ie/en/services/housing/supplydemand/
The above link provides details of the end user of the housing within individual areas that allows for designers to create sustainable communities.

Who is it aimed at

Social housing developments are primarily aimed at providing affordable and safe housing for low-income families.
This includes:
Families with Children: Ensuring that families have access to stable housing.
Elderly Individuals: Offering safe and accessible living environments for older adults.
Persons with Disabilities: Providing accommodations that meet the needs of individuals with disabilities
Displaced Families: Assisting those who have lost their homes due to natural disasters or other crises.
Single Individuals: Including those who may not have family support.
Social housing aims to reduce homelessness and housing instability, offering a secure place to live for those who might otherwise struggle to afford housing in the private market

3 Steps critical to success

1. Securing planning permission for the development under a Part VIII planning process. The decision to construct this development was subsequently delayed due a judicial review process.
2. Tendering and contract award
3. Completing construction during a period where the inflation rates on construction materials were at their highest and still delivering a project that represents excellent value for money.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Housing designs are determined by compliance with technical guidance documents and other national design guidelines such as universal design standards. Any change from national documents requires rigorous paperwork to justify the change. However, where changes proposed are presented as cost neutral items, they are generally acceptable.
2. N/A
3. N/A

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Although the planning process was judicial reviewed, the request for this review was withdrawn after 3 to 4 years which allowed for the project to proceed to tender and ultimately construction.
2. Delivering a top-quality product in a challenging market on time.
3. Several design standards had changed from when the project was granted planning 2015 (i.e. BER rating of A2 came into effect in 2018) that required changes in design that could not have an impact on the planning requirements. Using innovative designs to meet these standards was a critical outcome for building compliance reasons.