The Land Development Agency (LDA) is opening applications for the first phase of more than 600 cost-rental homes in Dublin, beginning with 229 apartments at Cooper Square in the Seven Mills development, Dublin 22.

The initial tranche comprises 102 one-bedroom, 116 two-bedroom and 11 three-bedroom homes. Applications open at 12 noon on Monday, 17 November via the LDA website.

Cost rental is a relatively new tenure that offers secure, long-term renting at prices set at least 25% below market levels. It is aimed at people who do not qualify for other State supports but who struggle to afford private rents.

At Cooper Square, monthly rents start from €1,350 for a one-bedroom apartment, €1,500 for a two-bedroom and €1,790 for a three-bedroom.

Prospective applicants are advised to visit the LDA website for full details on the application process and requirements, eligibility criteria and occupancy limits by apartment type. Further application phases will be announced over the coming months, with updates posted online.

The homes are being delivered through the LDA’s homebuilder partnerships initiative, Project Tosaigh, which provides financial support to complete housing schemes.

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Cooper Square is being delivered by the LDA in partnership with Cairn Homes. The scheme sits within Seven Mills, a new town beside the Grand Canal between Clondalkin and Lucan, in the Clonburris SDZ, and benefits from nearby train stations along with strong public transport, cycling and road connections.

John Coleman, Chief Executive of the LDA said: "The LDA is proud to be making more affordable homes available in Dublin. These high-quality and well-located cost rental apartments will make great homes and enhance the existing community in Seven Mills. In total, the LDA has now completed more than 2,200 cost rental apartments, and we continue to expand our development pipeline to ensure we are delivering this much needed and effective home type and tenancy.

"Cost rental offers eligible candidates the opportunity to enjoy security of tenure in a newly built, A-rated home in a great location at rents that are well below market rates. I would like to thank Cairn for partnering with us and delivering these projects on time, on budget and to such a high standard."

Michael Stanley, Chief Executive of Cairn Homes, said: "We are delighted to be partnering with the LDA to deliver one of the largest ‘Passivhaus’ Apartment developments currently under construction in Europe. The LDA’s first residents will shortly move into their energy efficient, affordable rental homes and we look forward to welcoming them to Cooper’s Square at Seven Mills.

"Looking forward, we are comfortably ahead of our construction programme, which will result in all 607 apartments, tenant amenities and public realm being fully completed by late 2026, just over two and half years from commencement. Cairn’s pace and scale will remain a cornerstone of our relationship with the LDA as we work together to reduce apartment delivery costs."

Cooper Square will ultimately comprise 257 one-bedroom, 318 two-bedroom and 32 three-bedroom apartments and is being completed to Passiv Haus standard to help lower heating bills and improve comfort. Seven Mills is planned around two retail and commercial hubs with shops, restaurants, meeting areas and new offices, and is expected to grow to more than 5,500 homes—similar in scale to Maynooth.