PLANS to provide 58 social housing units in Kinsale will help  to alleviate housing pressures for single people in the  tourist town, which according to a local councillor is in a ‘property bubble’.

Councillors approved plans at last week’s meeting of the local authority for a new social housing development at Island Fields in Abbeylands.

The plans will include the construction of 29 one-bed apartments, 15 two-bed apartments, five two-bed houses and nine three-bed houses.

As part of the planning new entrances will be built onto two local roads, R605 and R607, while a total of 78 car parking spaces will be provided including designated accessible spaces.

Cllr Alan Coleman (Ind) said this new social housing development is very much needed for Kinsale and it’s the first major  social housing scheme to come into Kinsale since Ballinacubby was built many years ago.

He added that there will also be 169 affordable units built near Sáile which has received planning.

‘This is very welcome and as the site is in a very prominent location at the entrance to Kinsale the design needs to be excellent . There is a huge requirement for two-bedroom houses in the town,’ said Cllr Coleman.

Noting that Kinsale has the highest rental rates in Cork he added: ‘There seems to be no proposal to put cost-rental into this development or the Sáile development and this gives people security and an affordable rent.’

Works will include footpaths along the R605 and R607, and two pedestrian crossings on the R605.