An Bord Pleanála has approved plans to build over 1,000 homes on 29 acres of council lands in Clondalkin.
South Dublin County Council’s joint venture development of 1,034 homes in Kilcarbery is expected to take four years to complete.
The mixed tenure development will include 310 social housing units (30% of development) which SDCC say is “the first of its kind” as part of the major urban sites initiative under Rebuilding Ireland.
The plan was approved by SDCC in October 2018 after councillors voted by 20 votes to 16, despite opposition from Sinn Fein, People Before Profit and Solidarity.
Among the issues raised by those opposing the plans was the fact that only 30% of the new homes will be allocated for social housing.
The plan to transfer public land, 100 per cent council owned, to private developers was also heavily criticised.
Adwood Ltd, a consortium of Dublin builders Adroit and Maplewood, will develop the site and as part of the deal will pay the council €38m and deliver 310 social housing units at “competitive rates” over four years.
Adwood Ltd was set up in June 2018 by developers Michael Whelan of Maplewood and Martin Lydon of the Adroit Company.
Another one of Lydon’s firms, Grandbrind, has been developing homes for the ‘Help to Buy’ scheme for first-time property buyers which provides the deposit needed to buy or build a new house or apartment.
In a letter to An Bord Pleanála earlier this year senior officials at South Dublin County Council, county architect Eddie Conroy and housing director Colm Ward said there are proposals for another 3,000 homes in similar joint venture models for the South Dublin County Council area.
In return for state support through the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) of €2m, the developer has also committed to delivering 50 units at prices discounted to the market.
The 724 private homes include a range of 3 and 4-bed houses as well as one, two and three-bed apartments.
The tender also includes an 847 sq.m. community building which will be handed over to the Council.
A creche and retail unit will also be included as part of the development.
SDCC say the Kilcarbery development is part of their €1 billion investment plan for building 4,500 new homes in the County in the coming years.
Daniel McLoughlin, Chief Executive of South Dublin County Council, said: “This is a vital element of our overall council-led housing strategy to deliver 4500 homes over the next few years.
“We must now get on with commencement on site at the earliest opportunity and look forward to the development of this new community.”
