71 residential units are set to come on-stream for older people in Waterford city, at the site of the former home of the 'Little Sisters of the Poor'.
€4.2m Euro in government funding has been approved by the Department of Housing, Local Government as part of the government's 'Housing for All' plan at St Joseph’s House, Manor Hill.
It includes 50 apartments within the former convent building and 21 additional units on the site, with Walsh and Sheehan Manor Hill Investments Ltd and Waterford City and County Council entering into an agreement to deliver the dwellings.
The first of the units are hoped to come on-stream by mid-2022 according to a representative for the local authority.
Acting Head of Housing at Waterford City and County Council Paul Johnston said the local authority will target this housing at the elderly population.
"We are currently working with our own in-house specialists and 'Age Friendly Ireland' to provide these units for older people.
"We're delighted to bring this to Waterford - especially on such a scale and the building is really ideal for this purpose and will hopefully provide a quality accommodation solution at a great location with great amenities on the site.
"The developer is a local company [Walsh and Sheehan Manor Hill Investments Ltd] and is targetting the first 21 units to be delivered in mid-2022, and all of the units to be delivered within 12 months," Johnston said.
Additional buildings that are already on the site are protected structures, and in a statement, Waterford Council said that a portion of the government funding will be used to re-purpose the existing buildings which were once vacant.
The council say the project will be made possible through the Repair and Lease Scheme which has been 'pioneered in Waterford' and is a significant driver in providing high-quality affordable housing solutions and returning vacant buildings into use in Waterford.
