Modular housing can be part of housing solution in Leitrim - Gilmartin

Independent candidate in the Manorhamilton Local Electoral Area, James Gilmartin is calling for a reasoned discussion on the situation regarding planning for modular homes within the county. “Leitrim, like every county in Ireland, is experiencing a housing crisis,” Mr Gilmartin said, “it is the number one issue I am encountering on the doorsteps in the run up to June’s election. It is reaching crisis levels throughout the county."

The Independent candidate describes how, day in and day out, he is meeting people who are stressed beyond measure due to the lack of housing. “These include young couples who are living in cramped accommodation in their family home with their parents. Others find themselves trapped in rental properties paying out of control rents that are eating up their capacity to save while their dream of home ownership continues to slip even further out of reach. To add to this over 550 families are on waiting lists for social housing and HAP in the county,” Mr Gilmartin continued.

“I believe an alternative we should examine more closely to help alleviated this crisis is modular housing. Such homes could play a pivotal role in addressing the lack of affordable housing in Co. Leitrim. These structures are based on modern methods of construction and are of high quality and extremely energy efficient. They are pre-built in factories and assembled on site in a matter of days and are consequently much less labour-intensive and much more cost-efficient when compared to the very high cost of building in the traditional manner,” he said.

Mr Gilmartin points out that modular houses can have a long-term purpose. Initially they can provide starter homes for young couples and down the road can cater for the needs of older people, thus ensuring long term functionality. “The modular build-type may also allow the Council to utilise land which has beengranted planning permission but where no works have taken place. Going down the modular road will present challenges. It is essential that such housing meets planning permission requirements and complies with building regulations but, when the necessary standards are met, this accommodation could go a long way towards addressing our needs for both social and affordable housing alongside private ownership on one-off sites. It should be considered as a credible short-term alternative in meeting our housing requirements,” Mr Gilmartin said.

“We need to be forward thinking in how we deal with this crisis and proper modular housing, when done correctly, can be one such innovative solution to our housing crisis here in Leitrim,” Mr Gilmartin concluded.