Frustration grows as new Louth apartments remain empty despite ‘so many people in need’

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

It is one of the most talked about housing developments in Dundalk, but questions around why new homes at Connolly’s Field still remain empty, have been raised this week.

Louth County Council have earmarked 70 new social housing units at the development, which is adjacent to Hill Street Bridge.

Cllr. Marianne Butler told the November meeting of Dundalk Municipal District that work on the building appeared to be largely complete.

She queried the delay in allocating tenants, adding “I am getting phone calls all the time about Connolly’s Field.”

“It was supposed to be May initially, but now we are in November, and it might not even be before Christmas. What is the delay? What is left to be done in it?”

She added: “I don’t understand why it is lying empty when there are so many people in need.”

Cllr. Butler called for clarity around the launch of the new housing units, adding that some people had been “notionally” told they were on the list for a home there.

Senior Engineer at Louth County Council, Declan Grimes, said the local authority had met with the Approved Housing Body Fold in the last few weeks.

He said there had been “a few issues to be resolved” which they were working through.

It is anticipated there will be progress in the coming weeks, but there are unlikely to be any allocations before Christmas, said Mr. Grimes.

"But they are ready, and we already have 54 potential applicants, and the rest will go up on the Choice Based Letting (CBL) portal.”

He added that the council had been in regular contact with the AHB, saying that the delay was “not within our control.”

"I feel it is weeks or days away, so we will keep you updated.”

Cllr. Emma Coffey asked how the launch of the new development would impact on the busy Hill Street Bridge/Long Avenue junction.

She added that the entrance to the new building would “really impact on the flow of traffic there.”

"I actually don’t see how this is going to work, is there going to be traffic lights?”

She told councillors she had looked at the planning for the development and could not get any answers on “how the system is going to work there.”

Engineer Paddy Callan said the council would be reviewing the junction.

"We will be carrying out a traffic survey at that junction, we are aware that the throughput is from the Dublin Road.”

He added that they would look at the impact of the new development on traffic flow, and review the traffic light sequencing on the bridge.”