AAG confirms plans to convert vacant Clare property into staff accommodation

One of the largest employers in the Mid-West has purchased a vacant property in Co. Clare which it plans to refurbish and convert into accommodation for its staff.

Atlantic Aviation Group, which is based in Shannon, has announced it's to offer employees the opportunity of rental accommodation in the purpose-built co-living space.

The company says its decision to buy the property in Sixmilebridge, through a subsidiary company, is in response to the difficulties its workers have had in finding housing in the region.

Once refurbished, it will be used as staff accommodation to give newly-hired employees a chance to settle into their new roles without the pressures of having to immediately find a home.

The A-rated development, close to AAG’s centre of operations at Shannon Airport, will consist of approximately 36 en-suite bedrooms for AAG employees with shared relaxation areas and living rooms, communal kitchens and garden areas.

Despite growing its workforce in recent years to more than 750 people, Atlantic Aviation Group says it has experienced significant challenges in recruiting staff due to the lack of available accommodation in the greater Shannon area.

The company, owned by entrepreneur Patrick Jordan, believes the Sixmilebridge development will alleviate pressure on new hires to find housing in the short and medium term.

“Like all employers, I and the AAG leadership team have observed and shared the journey that our people take to find suitable housing and accommodation. In the current market, that has proved to be a somewhat frustrating experience, with a scarcity of accommodation and high rent levels.

“In providing rental  accommodation for our new hires who need somewhere to live, we are giving our people the best possible chance to settle into their new roles right away and familiarise themselves with more long-term housing options. We are excited to be able to make this positive contribution and assist with accommodation,” he said.

Commenting on the announcement AAG CEO Shane O’Neill said: "We pride ourselves in offering innovative solutions for our clients and we also pride ourselves in looking after our people. Employees everywhere are struggling to find accommodation and this is our way of assisting our employees to find their feet as they start into their roles. The accommodation is not intended as a long-term solution but will prove invaluable in its role in giving employees a housing option when they start.” 

The staff accommodation project, at the site of the former Jamaica Inn hostel, is being designed by O’Neill O’Malley Architecture.

Limerick-based construction company LyMar Contracts Ltd is the developer while Aitch Sky Holdings, a subsidiary of AAG, is overseeing the project.