The Oscar Traynor Road housing development was given the green light from Dublin City Councillors.
Located off Coolock Lane in Dublin 5, the development will comprise 853 homes consisting of 40% social (341 homes), 40% cost rental (341) and 20% affordable purchase properties (171).
After a procurement process, the Council selected Glenveagh Living as the preferred bidder. Glenveagh Living first submitted a proposal to councillors at the monthly Council meeting in November 2020. The proposal involved the construction of 853 residential units together with associated infrastructural works, commercial units and open spaces. The residential plan consisted of 253 Social, 172 affordable purchase and 428 private homes- a mix of 50% private, 30% social and 20% affordable purchase.
To reach the planning stage, a proposal requires a Section 183 approval from councillors. This Section 183 proposal was rejected by councillors and therefore the project did not proceed.
Councillors referred the project to a working group from the Housing Strategic Committee (SPC), with a view to formulating an alternative plan for the site. This working group drafted a new proposal that was later approved by the full group of councillors at the March 2021 City Council meeting.
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A key element of this new proposal was for the site to be developed directly by Dublin City Council or in partnership with an Approved Housing Body with an alternative tenure mix as follows: 40% Social Housing, 40% Cost/Affordable rental, 20% Affordable Purchase.
As part of the revised plan, Glenveagh is prepared to sell a further 10% of the private homes to Dublin City Council, increasing the percentage of the social homes to 40% and to sell the remaining 40% of the private homes to an Approved Housing Body for the provision of Cost Rental Housing. 20% of the homes would be sold to DCC for the provision of Affordable Purchase housing.
In addition, the Government has recently increased the level of subvention for affordable homes from 50k to up to 100k in urban areas of the country. This welcome increase can now be applied to the affordable homes in the Glenveagh plan which will make the purchase price for eligible applicants much more attractive.
It is anticipated that a planning application could be lodged in Q2 2022 and granted in Q4 2022 with construction commencing in the beginning of 2023.
Lord Mayor, Alison Gilliland said: "Taking a decision on how best to proceed with the realisation of public housing on this site was extensively considered by all members of Dublin City Council. While it would be the preference of the majority that Dublin City Council lead the design, planning and development going back to beginning and starting again when we are at this stage would lose valuable time in a housing crisis - too many individuals and families are waiting too long on our social housing waiting lists, too many young people are living with their parents as they can’t afford to buy a home and too many are struggling with high market rents. The decision to enter into a Development Agreement with Glenveagh Living Limited will allow Dublin City Council realise 853 social, cost rental and affordable purchase homes along with extensive community facilities in a timely manner over the next 3- 4 years and provide for those in housing need."
Dave Dinnigan, A/Assistant Chief Executive, Housing & Community Services added: "Dublin City Council look forward to working with Glenveagh Living Limited in the delivery of a new community at Oscar Traynor Road. The proposed development will accommodate 853 new homes, almost 1700 Sq.M. mixed use and community facilities, a crèche and over 3.6 hectares of the highest quality public open space and parks. A planning application will be lodged by end Q2 next year."
