Applications for affordable homes in Mayo county town to open later this year | Connaught Telegraph

APPLICATIONS for 35 affordable homes in Castlebar are set to open in Q4 this year.

The term 'affordable housing' no longer applies to such developments, with the department now categorising them as 'starter homes', members of Mayo County Council's housing policy committee were told in an update.

Whatever the word used, the good news is that the 35 new starter homes in the county town are progressing really well.

There are plans to hold a public information session on September 8 in the council chamber, with a second one taking place on September 15 at First Choice Credit Union.

A show house will also be ready in September. And there will be a webinar in October ahead of the application portal opening in Q4.

The homes are a mix of two-bed and three-bed units. They will cost from €265,000 to €295,000.

Addressing the price of the homes, Councillor Harry Barrett described the latter as an 'eye-watering' mortgage for a young couple in Castlebar.

In his honest opinion it was a developer's dream, getting full market value while the council act as the auctioneers.

At the end of the day the mortgage would translate to €1,700 a month, which is a significant amount of money.

The councillor was told the local authority had negotiated down prices with the developer, who was marketing them.