[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Over 3,000 people have signed a Dundrum Housing Action petition to attempt to stop the sale of a Sandyford NAMA site.
The petition calls for the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, to halt the sale of a site in the Sandyford Business District, which received full planning permission for 460 homes and community facilities in July.
Dundrum Housing Action spokesperson, Brian Leeson, told Dublin Gazette that under the current plan, the site and the apartments will be sold to the private sector. Mr Leeson wants the government to direct NAMA to transfer the site to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to secure affordable housing for local families.
“It would be an act of economic stupidity and social vandalism to sell this site when thousands of local people are being denied affordable secure housing.
“Media speculation suggest IRES REIT to be a likely buyer of the site. IRES already own more than 700 homes in the Sandyford Business District and are seeking planning permission for more than 500 additional units on two new sites.
“The rents charged by IRES are now averaging more than €2,200 per month, a rate that is simply unaffordable for people on low and middle incomes.
“The government needs to take action to increase the pool of affordable housing in Rathdown. This site represents an ideal opportunity to do just that.”
Dundrum Housing Action is calling on the government to stop the sale of the site and instead use it to provide secure affordable public homes for 460 low and middle income families.
Mr Leeson added: “The government has already announced the development of a ‘cost-rental’ housing complex on the site of the former St Michael’s Estate in Inchicore, so we know there is no legal or other impediment to a similar development in Sandyford.
“Universal Mixed Income Public Housing forms the backbone of Vienna’s hugely successful housing system. If it works there, it can work in Dublin too.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]
