Clare County Council will unveil plans to develop a 2.26-hectare landbank providing 12 serviced sites for new private homes at Rooska, Lisdoonvarna, on Wednesday next.
This is the first development of its kind in County Clare to be delivered under the Ready to Build Scheme: Serviced Sites for New Homes – Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund.
The Ready to Build Scheme provides discounted, fully serviced sites in towns and villages to support the construction of principal private residences. The scheme aims to encourage homebuilding in rural town settings, support regeneration, strengthen communities, and address local housing needs.
The proposal for Rooska outlines the construction of a new service road with associated footpaths, provision of public amenity open space, and required site services and utilities connections provided to each site.
Members of the public are invited to meet with council staff from 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday next February 18, 2026, in the Pavillion Community Centre, Lisdoonvarna to view the design and discuss the project in detail.
Clare County Council Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Services for Housing Delivery, Infrastructure Provision and Land Activation Alan Farrell said, “This project represents an important opportunity to rejuvenate Lisdoonvarna by creating space for new families, new ideas, and renewed vibrancy within the town. By encouraging individuals and families to build their own homes in a town setting, the scheme supports long‑term community growth and strengthens the social fabric of the area.
“This initiative reaffirms the local authority’s strategic priorities most notably accelerating all forms of housing delivering and increasing investment in infrastructure Increased housing activation is an “enabler” to town regeneration, addressing rural depopulation and economic development.”
Clare County Council Senior Engineer Housing Delivery, Infrastructure Provision and Land Activation Directorate Adrian Headd explained that the proposed Lisdoonvarna development is focused on home ownership. “A range of individuals or households will be eligible to avail of the scheme based on a framework of priorities. Such priorities include First Time Buyers or those who qualify under the “Fresh Start” principle, individuals who have needs – specifically, disabled people or older people selling their current home to relocate to a town or village.
“Using this scheme, Clare County Council will be selling serviced sites with the above-mentioned infrastructure and offering a discount of the market value in Lisdoonvarna” he said.
The scheme is aimed at individuals and families that want to build their own home in a town or village setting and live in it as their primary residence, rather than commercial developers.
A Part VIII Planning Application for the development will be lodged in the coming weeks.
Project documents and further details will be available on Clare County Council’s consultation portal where members of the public can view the material and make submissions online.
