Good Shepherd manager reassures residents over Kilkenny City development

The manager of the Good Shepherd Centre in Kilkenny has assured residents in one of the most historic areas of Kilkenny City that a new development, due to open in the New Year, will not be used to house people who are prone to ‘high-risk’ behaviour.

“The focus of the development at Blackmill Street will be housing the elderly and people living with disabilities and mental health challenges as well as a few homeless people,” said Noel Sherry.

Breaking: €1.3 million in funding for community centres in Kilkenny

“We want to create a sustainable community that integrates well. I will be taking steps to ensure that this happens. We are not creating a hostel environment, we are creating homes.

The development, which consists of 12 one-bed apartments, is located on Blackmill Street, just metres from the historic Black Abbey. The three-storey building is currently under construction and is located at the site of the old Kilkenny snooker hall and is due to open in February or March of next year.

Some residents in one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods are concerned that the new development might result in anti-social behaviour in the area.

However, Mr Sherry who is also CEO of the Kilkenny Voluntary Housing Association said that his aim is that people who are prone to high risk behaviour like anti-social behaviour will not be placed there.

The Kilkenny Voluntary Housing Association is funded through the Capital Assistance Scheme and provides housing for the elderly, people with disabilities and people with mental health issues.

An Bord Pleanala granted planning for the development in March 2020 following a number of objections from residents including the density of the development, concerns around anti-social behaviour and the negative impact on the visual amenities in the area.