€40m to transform DLR roads, housing

€40 MILLION has been allocated by the Government to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to carry out major infrastructure projects to boost the construction of housing throughout the area.
The Government’s Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHA) has been allocated to 15 city and county councils throughout Ireland to provide large road, water and sewage schemes to service lands zoned for housing that have remained undeveloped.
In Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, the funds will be divided between four housing projects.
€10.5 million has been allocated towards the delivery of the Glenamuck distributor road and to the diversion of overhead power lines.
It is predicted that this investment will result in 1,000 housing units being provided by 2021, with the total potential for long-term housing being 2,000 units.
€15.19 million has been allocated to the Cherrywood lands, a major urban housing development site strategically located between the M50 and N11.
This area has the benefit of five Luas stations and has an approved plan for 8,000 housing units.
€4.15 million has been allocated to Woodbrook-Shanganagh, another major housing development site.
It is estimated that 1,000 housing units will be provided by 2021, with a potential for 2,300 homes on the wider lands. In addition, a new Dart station will be constructed at Woodbrook as part of the funding.
Finally, €10.1 million has been allocated for the development of the Clay Farm loop distributor road and link bridge, located off the Ballyogan Road in Stepaside. The construction of this new loop distributor road and bridge will assist in providing 1,000 housing units by 2021.
Following the announcement of the €40m funding, Minister Shane Ross told The Gazette that he was delighted.
He said: “Young families in particular need to be able to access affordable housing near the support that extended family and friends provide. Supporting infrastructure is crucial for quality of life as well as economic prosperity.
“I am delighted that applications for funding for the development of the Glenamuck distributor road and the Clay Farm loop distributor road and link bridge have been successful. This will greatly enhance the area and the lives of those who live and travel there.”
Senator Neale Richmond (FG) particularly welcomed the €10.5 million funding for infrastructure works on the Glenamuck Road.
He said: “This funding is long overdue and will deliver a new road network in Kilternan that will open up significant new land for development and crucially alleviate already acute traffic problems.
“Anyone who knows this locality will be aware that this road upgrade will be vital to improving traffic in South Dublin.”
Senator Victor Boyhan (Ind), who is a member of the Oireachtas Housing Committee, also welcomed the allocation of government funds and said: “The sites selected have the potential to build in excess of 14,0000 new homes.
“Given that the DLR social housing waiting list stands at well over 5,000 people and that large numbers of first-time buyers are currently unable find affordable private housing to purchase within the county, all new plans to build new homes is most welcome.”