Twenty-two 'affordable homes' being offered in new Moate estate

Westmeath County Council has announced that applications for a 22-unit affordable housing scheme on Lake Road in Moate will open to the public next month.

The new Gort an Locha housing development will consist of fourteen 3-bed semi detached houses, one 3-bed terraced house, one 4-bed detached house and six 4-bed semi detached houses.

The council said the scheme would see the homes being offered "at a price that is lower than market value," with the specific price in each case being determined "in accordance with the income of the purchaser".

The minimum purchase prices of the houses will range from €229,500 to €269,000.

In order to be eligible for the scheme, purchasers must be first-time buyers with a maximum household income of between €63,056 and €71,606.

The council added that, while mortgage approval was not a requirement for the scheme, it was "strongly recommended that applicants have mortgage approval in principle" prior to applying for one of the affordable homes.

Applications will be accepted via an online application portal only, and this will go live on Wednesday, July 26, at 12 noon. Applications will close on Wednesday, August 16.

The council said further details on the scheme and the application process for it would be available on its website at www.westmeathcoco.ie.