Applications for the latest affordable home scheme go live later this month
11:54, 04 Jan 2026Updated 11:54, 04 Jan 2026
A rendering of the Affordable Housing Scheme at Glenbride, Kilnap on the Old Mallow Road(Image: Cork City Council )
After handing over keys to more than 300 affordable homes last year, Cork City Council is starting off 2026 strong with a new allotment of 23 homes with prices starting from €270,500. The second phase of the Affordable Housing Scheme at Glenbride along the Old Mallow Road is less than ten minutes from Cork city centre.
The homes are a great option for first-time buyers and young families, with the developers offering a range of two and three-bedroom options. The cheapest property is a two-bedroom, 89m² townhouse for just over €270,000, while the most expensive is a three-bedroom semi-detached property for €322,965, spanning 120m².
The new-build homes come with an A2 BER rating and are on offer for at least 20% under market value. The homes are ‘designed with modern living in mind’, and each property comes with a fully fitted kitchen, a modern air-to-water heating system and the capacity for a high-speed internet connection.
Developers Murnane and O’Shea Ltd built the homes in collaboration with Cork City Council. This follows the success of the company’s previous affordable homes project built in Heathfield, Ballincollig, which provided new homes for 70 individuals and families.
Applications for the Glenbride scheme open at noon on Tuesday, January 27 and will remain open until midnight on Saturday, February 17. Prospective buyers are encouraged to apply early, as submissions are typically processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Under the terms of the Affordable Housing Purchase Scheme, Cork City Council claims a stake in the property. The council’s equity stake will be equal to the discount of the purchase price from the full market value of the home.
The purchaser can buy out this equity share at a time of their choosing, but there will be no requirement to do so. However, the council can seek to cash in this equity after 40 years. Buyers can also buy out the council over an extended period to gain full equity in the property.
The scheme is open to First-Time Buyers, ‘Fresh Start’ buyers, or those who own a home that is not suitable for their household’s needs and who cannot afford to purchase property at its open market value. Thresholds to qualify for the scheme include income and eligibility limits — you can find out more here.
The Fresh Start principle applies to applicants who own a home but have divested from their property, including through separation, divorce, insolvency or bankruptcy.