A number of housing developments in the New Ross district, including a 50-unit scheme in Rosbercon, are to begin construction in 2026 according to Wexford County Council (WCC).
At the November meeting of the New Ross Municipal District (NRMD) Mark Devereux of the council’s housing capital team provided updates on five separate projects which are expected to progress next year.
Chief among those was the 50-unit development in Rosbercon which had been out for public consultation in recent months.
“That will be brought before the main council meeting in December for approval with a view to tendering it in Q1 2026,” said Mr Devereux, adding that he expected a contractor to be on site there next year.
However, given the nature of the development and the fact there had been a number of submissions from members of the public opposing it, Councillor Michael Sheehan was fearful of how it would be received when put in front of his colleagues from other districts.
“If it lands in front of all 34 councillors before we have a chance to go through it it’s going to be contentious,” he said. “We’ve seen it time and time again where local authority developments go to the main meetings and become a political football, it’s not a dignified sight.”
With regards to those submissions from the public, director of services Eamonn Hore said each of them had been taken “taken on board” with responses included in the chief executive’s report. Those submissions relate to traffic safety, flood risk management, the impact on adjoining properties, sustainable development, a lack of green space and community amenities, the environmental impact, and potential issues with parking of cars.
However, Mr Hore remained confident that the development would receive the approval of the full council.
“The part VIII process was followed precisely and each of those submissions and concerns has been taken on board,” he said.
Continuing, Mr Devereux said the construction of six new houses in Adamstown was also imminent with the tender likely to be awarded to smaller builders in the county.
“We’re forming a framework with Wicklow County Council for projects which involve small works such as this, the aim is to try to create work for smaller builders in the two counties.”
The construction of a two-storey duplex containing two 1 bed homes and a bungalow style three-bed special needs house in Bullawn is currently out for tender Mr Devereux confirmed, with a contractor expected on site next year.
But having previously voiced his objection to this scheme, Cllr Michael Sheehan took one more opportunity to question the wisdom of building “three shoeboxes” instead one suitably-sized house.
“It’s absolutely nuts trying to fit three houses in there,” he said. “We’re putting three shoeboxes in there when we should have put in one proper house.”
A 20-unit scheme in Castlemoyle is also in the latter stages of design with WCC requiring official approval from Minister for Housing, James Browne, before it can proceed.
“We had to apply to transfer the lands from the housing agency to WCC,” explained Mr Devereux. “We approached them to ask if we could do a part VIII (local authority development) on it. Apparently it’s on the minister’s desk at the moment.”
“And we can’t do anything without ministerial approval,” noted Cllr Bridín Murphy.
“We can’t do site investigations, we can’t do anything,” confirmed Mr Devereux who said it had been on the minister's desk for approximately six weeks but that he didn’t anticipate any issues going forward..
The last project up for discussion is situated in Cluain Fada in New Ross and will see 3D biometrics utilised by the chosen contractor.
“We have received three valid tenders for that,” said Mr Devereux. “We’re awaiting certification from the National Standards of Authority Ireland (NSAI) and we’ll be appointing a contractor thereafter.”
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.