Donegal County Council will make available serviced sites in towns and villages at discounted rates for individual purchasers who wish to build their own home.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien at the launch of the ‘Ready to Build’ Scheme.
The scheme, which will be funded under the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund.
Under the initiative, the council will make serviced sites (i.e. sites with the necessary infrastructure such as electricity, water and wastewater) available in towns and villages to potential purchasers for the building by the purchaser of a principal private residence. The sites will be sold at a discounted rate of up to €30,000 from the market value. The discount will be determined by the cost of servicing the site.
“Many areas in towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant and undeveloped sites, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy to those communities,” the minister said.
“The scheme fulfils a commitment in the government’s Housing for All plan, and supports the Our Rural Future policy and the recently published Town Centre First policy, which aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.”
The new initiative will work hand-in-hand with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, also funded by the Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund.
The fund aims to tackle vacancy and dereliction in towns and villages by giving prospective homeowners a grant of up to €30,000 (€50,000 if derelict) for the refurbishment of a vacant property for occupation as a principal private residence.
All available sites will be advertised on Donegal County Council’s website and on relevant local publications.
Once sites are advertised on Donegal County Council’s website, applications can be made to the council. Information on the scheme will be available on the local authority’s website and is available on gov.ie.
Further information will be available from the Vacant Homes Officer in Donegal County Council.
