Design plans for the regeneration of council sites on Sandy Road contain many "positive aspects" but it lacks social housing, and it is "absolutely imperative" such housing be included.
This is the view of People Before Profit Galway, which has welcome the Galway City Council's regeneration plans, describing them as "ambitious", and praised the "positive efforts" to include public transportation, cycle lanes, and pathways in the design plans, particularly the cycle lane and pathway to run from Liosbán to the city centre via the Sandy Road site.
'An investment in social housing is an investment in the future of the city. It will tackle the housing crisis and provide an ongoing income for the council through rents'
The plan also includes proposals for hundreds of housing units, mostly in the form of apartments. However PBP Galway pointed out that, in the documents published by the city council, there are five different design review proposals, but only one mentions social housing, and even then, only as a proposal of 10 per cent social housing.
“Providing social housing is a key task of our councils and they must use this opportunity to provide it,” said PBP spokesperson, Kiran Emrich. “Galway city has a serious shortage of social housing stock and a long waiting list for housing. At the same time, the number of people homeless continues to rise."
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According to the Simon Community there are more than 500 people, including nearly 200 children, currently in emergency accommodation in the West of Ireland alone. PBP Galway believes it is "long overdue" for the city council to deal with the housing issue and the Sandy Road site represents "a unique opportunity to do so".
"If the council sells off the site, or properties on it, to private developers or buyers, the opportunity will be lost," said Mr Emrich. "An investment in social housing is an investment in the future of the city. Not only will it help tackle the housing crisis in Galway, it will provide an ongoing income for the council through rents paid. This ongoing income will not exist if Galway City Council takes the short-term option of selling off the property to private interests.”
