Respond delivers 33 new social homes in Westmeath

Respond delivers 33 new social homes for people in Balnamona, Mullingar Co. Westmeath in first..

The development is part of three phases that will deliver 99 homes in total

Respond, an Approved Housing Body and service provider, have been welcoming people to their new lifetime homes in Balnamona, Westmeath this week.  Respond have delivered the first phase of the new estate, in collaboration with Westmeath County Council. Unveiling 33 social homes in phase one, Respond aim to deliver phase two and phase three in the second half of this year, completing the 99 home development.

On track to be completed in quarter three of 2025, the development comprises of 31 one-bed duplexes, 31 three-bed duplex, 11 two-bed houses, 20 three-bed houses and 6 four-bed houses. The homes have been funded by a combination of private finance from the Housing Finance Agency and a CALF (Capital Advance Leasing Facility) loan from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Respond will open an Early Learning and School Age Care in Balnamona later this year and there is also a community building to strengthen community ties and enhance local infrastructure. The Early Years service will provide full day care service catering for children from 1yrs to 6yrs.

All homes in this the development are BER A2 rated. The development is situated a short distance (c. 2.1km) from the Mullingar Train Station, along with various bus links located within Mullingar Town Centre, providing access to Dublin, Dublin Airport, Sligo and surrounding areas. The site is also bounded by the National Cycle Network located along the Royal Canal.

There are three primary schools with the 2km catchment area from the estate, while the post primary schools are located within Mullingar Town Centre. Additionally, there is an Athletics club and a supermarket within 30 minutes walking distance of the estate.

Respond have 18,935 tenants living in 8,611 homes around the country. The organisations also has 3,206 homes in construction across the country.

Niamh Randall, Spokesperson for Respond, highlighted the collaborative effort:

“The partnership with Westmeath County Council has been instrumental in bringing this development to fruition. It’s a testament to what we can achieve together for the community. We are grateful for the ongoing support from our partners, including the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government, the Housing Finance Agency and The Housing Agency, which is crucial in delivering high-quality social housing and meeting the needs of communities. The tenants who have moved into Balnamona will now become an integral part of the community here and we hope they will be very happy.”

“Over the last 40 years, we have amassed considerable experience in managing the construction process. Currently, more than 82% of Respond’s delivery is focused on construction-led activity adding to the national housing stock; this means we buy the land and fund the construction at every stage of the development process with our in-house experts overseeing the construction process ensuring both quality and cost control. We remain committed to playing our part working with the incoming Government to build much needed homes throughout the country and providing services for families and individuals who are in need.”

About Respond

Respond, a construction-led Approved Housing Body and service provider, has been working all around Ireland for over 40 years. Our vision is that every family and individual in Ireland will have high‐quality housing as part of a vibrant and caring community. Housing and decent accommodation, in the areas where people want to live, are central to improving people’s lives and enhancing the health and well‐being of society.

18,935 tenants live in 8,611 properties across the 26 counties that we either own or manage. Respond also provide a range of services for families and individuals within our communities. This includes emergency accommodation with 24/7 support for families who are homeless in six Family Homeless Services, three Day Care Services for Older People, 17 Early Childhood Care and Education, Family Support and Refugee Resettlement services. Our aim is to provide person centred services to support people to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

Respond is a member of the Housing Alliance, the collaboration of seven of Ireland’s largest Approved Housing bodies (AHBs). The Housing Alliance’s purpose is to work with Government and Local Authorities to promote the delivery of social and affordable homes, address barriers to delivery and advocate strongly for responsible, professional housing management. In 2022 our 7 not-for-profit members delivered more than 4,000 of Ireland’s voluntary housing stock delivered that year.