The gift of home: 180 Kilkenny people get keys to new houses before Christmas
Some people in Kilkenny are getting one of the greatest presents a person can get for Christmas– a home to call their own.
The €12 million Respond Housing project on the Ballybough Street in Kilkenny city is all but full, with just one remaining family yet to move in. Respond has been handing over keys to the new residents over the past week.
In total, this Respond development provided 39 family homes and 15 apartments which will house up to 180 people.
This Ballybough Street Development was completed in partnership with Kilkenny County Council and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the funding provided through Capital Advanced Leasing Facility/PAA scheme, the Housing Finance Agency and the Capital Assistance Scheme.
Respond currently owns and manages 133 social houses in Kilkenny and there is another 144 homes planned for 2020 – 50 of these homes are currently under construction at Nuncio Road and a further 40 being built at Margaretsfield in Kilkenny.
A Respond spokesperson told KilkennyNow.ie: “The Ballybough Street development consist of six four-bedroom houses and 33 three-bedroom homes, as well as 15 two-bedroom apartments.
“The 39 homes were designed for general housing needs, 15 apartments were designed for people with specific housing needs, i.e. for older people and for people with disabilities.
“The estate is co-located with an independently owned nursing home which is due to start building on site in the coming year.
“To date, 175 people have moved into homes here – 76 adults and 99 children and just one family are yet to move in,” the spokesperson added.
