On the O'Cualainn model. They do not in fact build houses very cheaply. They build with a big public subsidy and that is what keeps the sale costs down.
To far they have constructed 49 houses in Ballymum on half provided for 'free' by Dublin City Council, development levies were also waived on the site (ie. the Council paid the costs of electricity and sewage provision) and the council also provided road access. The extent of the subsidy provided here is not scaleable in my view which is why O'Cuallain have only provided 49 houses to date. That bears repeating 49 houses to date.
They won a tender from Fingal County Council to supply affordable housing at similarly low 'costs' to Ballymum but if you examine their website that scheme has now been quietly dropped. Apparently this is because they simply couldn't delivery at the costs proposed and FCC refused to cough up the huge additional subsidy demanded by O'C.
To far they have constructed 49 houses in Ballymum on half provided for 'free' by Dublin City Council, development levies were also waived on the site (ie. the Council paid the costs of electricity and sewage provision) and the council also provided road access. The extent of the subsidy provided here is not scaleable in my view which is why O'Cuallain have only provided 49 houses to date. That bears repeating 49 houses to date.
They won a tender from Fingal County Council to supply affordable housing at similarly low 'costs' to Ballymum but if you examine their website that scheme has now been quietly dropped. Apparently this is because they simply couldn't delivery at the costs proposed and FCC refused to cough up the huge additional subsidy demanded by O'C.