By Rose Barrett
Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien last week confirmed over €10m in serviced site funding has been approved in principle for the delivery of 238 affordable purchase homes at Ballymastone in Donabate.
This funding is in addition to the €10.6m previously provided to Fingal County Council through the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) for the construction of the Donabate Distributor Road.
The Serviced Sites Fund is established to support local authorities to provide vital infrastructure on their land, to prepare development sites for the delivery of affordable housing.
A preferred bidder has been selected for the development of approximately 1,200 homes in Ballymastone in Donabate in the coming years.
It is understood that 238 homes will become available for purchase at rates which are significantly discounted, previously indicated by Fingal CoCo to be priced from €250k-€270k.
The organisation ‘Supporting Proper Development in Donabate’ was unavailable at this time to make an informed comment on the site service investment and proposed development for Ballmastone.
Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF) for Rush-Lusk which incorporates the Donabate and Portrane area stated:
“I would be in favour of this development so long as it’s within the parameters of the local area dev plan and the Fingal Development Plan, and done in phased stages, over 10- 15 years with circa 100-120 houses per annum.” Cllr Henchy himself is from Portrane and currently lives in Donabate.
“It is essential that Ballymastone housing is underpinned by physical and social infrastructure. I am in favour of the overall breakdown of 60% private which will go to the open market; 20% will be made available for affordable housing; 20% will be social and of that, 10% will be housing units aimed at older citizens and citizens with additional needs.
“All will be integrated within the overall scheme. When the phases are delivered, this 60, 20, 20 divide will be delivered with each phase.”
He continued: “This is not a developer-led scheme – it’s the developer working for Fingal Co Co. It also allows for a top-class sport, recreational and education campus.
“This will include a full-sized running track, all-weather soccer and GAA pitches, and a skate park to meet the needs of our local teenagers, plus a playground.
“Sites will be left vacant and earmarked for the future delivery of new schools as they are required.”
Cllr Henchy noted he will be strongly supporting young families and individuals living in the Donabate and Portrane area who will be seeking to avail of some of these houses, “and to remain living locally, near family and community.”
CAPTION: Artist’s impression of the proposed new development at Ballymastone
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