The Land Development Agency (LDA) has begun construction on Richmond Village in Fairview, Dublin 3, kick-starting the delivery of nearly 800 new homes. The milestone was marked at a sod-turning ceremony attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, An Taoiseach, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the LDA.

The project will provide 779 apartments on the grounds of St Vincent's Hospital, a little over two kilometres from Dublin city centre. All homes are apartments and are being advanced through the LDA's Project Tosaigh in partnership with Royalton Group and Walls Construction. Royalton Group secured planning permission in 2023 and, with the LDA now involved, the scheme has moved into the construction phase.

Alongside the homes, the plans include retail space and community amenities to create a mixed-use neighbourhood. Separately, Royalton Group and Walls will deliver a state-of-the-art mental health facility for St Vincent's Hospital Fairview, due to be completed towards the end of 2027, replacing existing hospital buildings, some of which are more than a century old. Historic structures on the site will be restored and repurposed.

Richmond Village will comprise 10 buildings ranging from two to 11 storeys, offering studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Works began earlier this year, with the first homes expected in Q4 2028 and full completion targeted for 2029.

The development is located in an established, well-connected area close to parks, sports facilities and schools, and within easy reach of Eastpoint Business Park, Drumcondra and Dublin city centre. It benefits from strong public transport links and cycling infrastructure.

The LDA has so far partnered with homebuilders to deliver more than 3,000 Project Tosaigh homes across Dublin, Wicklow, Meath, Kildare, Limerick and Waterford.

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Speaking at the sod-turning event, the Lord Mayor of Dublin said: "Today marks a defining moment for Fairview and for our capital city. The turning of the sod at Richmond Village is more than the start of construction, it is the beginning of a new chapter in Dublin's story, one that delivers hundreds of high quality homes in the heart of an established and thriving community.

"This is a development that honours the legacy of the former St Vincent's Hospital site while looking firmly to the future. It will create a vibrant, inclusive neighbourhood where homes, healthcare and community life come together, strengthening the fabric of this part of our city.

"As Lord Mayor, and under my theme of Celebrating Dublin, this is exactly the kind of ambition we must continue to deliver, building homes, supporting communities and shaping a city where people can truly belong. I look forward with great optimism to seeing Richmond Village take shape and to welcoming the many residents who will make this place their home in the years ahead."

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: "The start of construction at Richmond Village is a significant step in increasing the supply of affordable and social housing. Developments of this scale are essential to meeting demand and building sustainable communities in well-connected locations.

"The Government remains focused on accelerating delivery through record levels of investment and a strong pipeline of projects nationwide. It is encouraging to see this site now moving into the construction phase, and I acknowledge the coordinated work of the LDA and its partners in bringing it forward."

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, said: "Through our new Housing Action Plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, we are increasing housing supply and working each day towards our ambitious target of 300,000 new homes by 2030.

"Richmond Village is a prime example of delivering new homes – almost 800 – and building communities, with its integrated facilities and how it fits into the wider neighbourhood. Projects like this underscore the importance of all playing their part on the ground. Here today, we see the benefits from how State-backed agencies such as the LDA are working with the private sector to accelerate delivery and ensure that new homes come on stream as quickly as possible.

"Every week, I am delighted to visit a number of projects like this and it is very encouraging to see momentum gather all across the country. I look forward to returning here in the coming years to see a thriving new community established in Fairview."

John Coleman, Chief Executive of the Land Development Agency, said: "We are delighted to mark the start of construction at Richmond Village, which will deliver nearly 800 much-needed homes in a superbly located part of Dublin.

"Through Project Tosaigh, the LDA is enabling high-quality developments to progress from planning to construction. Richmond Village is an important addition to our growing portfolio of large-scale projects helping to increase housing delivery nationwide.

"Construction is now underway and we look forward to working closely with our partners to deliver a vibrant, sustainable and well-served new neighbourhood for Fairview by year end 2029."