Infrastructure projects in Louth set to help deliver thousands of homes
Three infrastructure projects in Louth will be supported in the first phase of the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) programme to unlock housing
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD announced today that three infrastructure projects in Louth will be supported in the first phase of the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) programme, that is hoped will help deliver 2,811 homes across the county.
The approved projects will directly enable the delivery of 86,000 new homes and provide the potential for a further 113,000 homes.
They are among 82 infrastructure projects which will be supported in the first phase of the HIIF programme, which the Government says will directly enable the delivery of 86,000 new homes and provide the potential for a further 113,000 homes across the country.
The three projects to be funded in Louth as part of a major multi annual commitment to unlocking land and enabling the delivery of housing at scale are:
- Ash Walk Link Road in Ardee - a link road c. 230 m length with an indicative cost band of less than €10m, that the Government says directly unlocks lands for 52 residential units and indirectly unlocks a further 45 residential units.
- Final section of Norther Cross Route in Drogheda with railway underbridge - a distributor road, c 1.08km in length with railway underbridge and an indicative cost band of more than €20m . The Government says that the project directly unlocks lands for 1,840 residential units and indirectly unlocks a further 125 residential units.
- Leonard’s Cross in Drogheda upgrades of local road and R168 (former N51) with an indicative cost band of less than €10m, and which the Government says directly unlocks lands for 560 residential units and indirectly unlocks a further 189 residential units.
The news was welcomed by Ardee councillor and recently elected Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr Dolores Minogue.
Cllr Minogue told the Dundalk Democrat: “ I welcome this announcement from government, this will help open up Ardee for more housing and safer route around the town , although it's in its very early stages, it's great to see Ardee getting this fund that will be of great benefit.”
The news was also welcomed by Louth TD, Erin McGreehan, who said: ““Land that is suitable for housing should be developed, and that is exactly what these investments will help achieve.
“There is land across the county that is currently lying idle because it lacks the critical infrastructure needed to support housing development. These projects will address that issue and make this land ready for new homes.
“The projects announced today will be supported by State funding to create additional capacity in local infrastructure networks. This will enable housing development across entire settlements, not just on the lands that directly benefit from the infrastructure investment.”