449 built – 350 now sold

12:53, 08 May 2026Updated 13:00, 08 May 2026

The new home in Glenbride, Kilnap(Image: H-Pix)

Someone in Cork can look forward to summer in a brand new home – as the Council hands over the keys to its 350th affordable property.

The house, developed under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS), is in Glenbride, Kilnap, a new development of 86 energy efficient A-rated homes. The development is made up of three-bed semi-detached, three-bed end of terrace and two-bed mid-terrace homes, and is being delivered over three phases on lands acquired and developed by Cork City Council.

The estate was built in a partnership between Cork City Council and Murnane and O’Shea Ltd.

The City Council has now delivered 449 new homes in 10 LAAPS developments, including at Glenmore Heights, Lehenaghmore in Togher, Danesfort in Whites Cross, Newton Heights in Mayfield, Seaberry in Grange, and Heathfield in Ballincollig.

It means the City Council has exceeded its target 378 affordable homes by end of 2026, set out under the Government’s ‘Housing For All’ plan – delivering 92% of the Affordable Homes target for the period 2022-2026.

With house prices across County Cork soaring – hitting an average of €340,000 by the end of 2025 – it’s increasingly difficult for first-time buyers to get a foot on the property ladder without the help of dedicated programmes like the Council’s affordable housing scheme. The scheme offers a way onto the ladder by selling new-build properties at a fixed price, which is set at least 20% below the market rate for the area.

In return, the Council retains a percentage ‘equity share’ in the home equal to the difference between the open market value of the home and the reduced price paid by the purchaser. For example, if you buy a home at a 20% reduction, Cork City Council takes a 20% equity share in your home.

Homeowners can choose to repay some, or all, of the equity share at any time following their acquisition of the property.

More LAAPS homes are planned in 2026 and 2027, including a 155 unit social and affordable housing scheme in Lehenaghmore, where 88 homes will be sold under the LAAPS, with more schemes to be announced.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy, said: “This scheme will deliver high-quality homes for families in Cork, building on the work that the City Council has already done, and continues to do, to provide homes for the people of Cork. Each set of keys handed over represents safety and security for families, reflecting the strong collaboration between the Council and key stakeholders to continue building homes across our city.

“I want to congratulate the family on receiving the keys to their new home. Having already exceeded our Housing for All 2026 target, I also want to pay tribute to the Council staff who continue to work tirelessly to deliver these homes.”

Brian Geaney, the assistant chief executive of Cork City Council, added: “Reaching the milestone of handing over the 350th set of keys under Cork City Council’s Affordable Housing Scheme is something we are immensely proud of. It is a clear demonstration of our ongoing commitment to delivering affordable homes that make a real and lasting difference in people’s lives. We are proud to be exceeding the ambitious targets set for us by Government, and we remain firmly focused on continuing this momentum.

Cork City Council is actively expanding opportunities to deliver affordable housing in prime locations across the city, so that even more individuals and families can benefit from the security and stability that an affordable home provides. This work is vitally important, and today’s milestone is a reminder of the positive impact that well-planned, well-delivered housing can have on the people and communities we serve”.

Cork City Council is launching the third and final phase of Affordable Housing in Glenbride, Kilnap on the 8th May. This final phase of Glenbride is offering a selection of two and three-bedroom properties, with prices starting from €270,500.

Income limits apply, and potential applicants are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the qualification criteria and required documentation, details of which are available at www.corkcity.ie.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the documentation requirements in advance, as demand is expected to exceed the number of available homes. For further information, please contact: affordablehousing@corkcity.ie