Oscar Traynor site decision deferred to later this month

Gary Ibbotson 12 Nov 2021

A final decision on the development of more than 850 homes on the large Oscar Traynor Site in Santry will be made later this month, after a vote was deferred at a recent Dublin City Council meeting.

Last year, councillors voted to reject a deal tabled by Glenveagh Homes that would see the land be sold to the developer for the construction of 853 homes, half of which would have been sold on the private market, while 30 percent would be used for social housing and 20 percent would be affordable-purchase housing.

At the time, councillors said they wanted the development to be 100 percent social and affordable housing.

In March, councillors put forward a more detailed plan which proposed that 80 percent of the homes would be social housing and 20 percent would for affordable purchase.

Following an initial assessment of their plan by the Department of Housing it would be “at least five years before the new project would be progressed to a ready-to-build stage”, according to a report last month from the council’s housing section.

However, the report said Glenveagh was still interested in carrying out the development and was willing to sell a further 10 percent of the private homes to the council, increasing the percentage of social homes to 40 percent.

It also said it would be willing to sell 40 percent to an approved housing body for a cost-rental scheme.

The remaining 20 percent could be sold for affordable housing.

Many councillors objected to the report, saying they did not accept the given timeline of five years before the project could commence.

Before the meeting on Monday, November 1, Glenveagh tried to reassure councillors of its commitment to adhere by the proposed terms.

In a letter to Lord Mayor Alison Gilliland and the council’s head of planning Richard Shakespeare, Stephen Garvey, Glenveagh chief executive, said his company would stick with the councillors’ plan for all homes to be “State-supported housing”.

Garvey said he was “increasingly concerned about misconceptions that have emerged” about the deal.

He said the company was committed to delivering the tenure mix of 40 percent social housing, 40 percent cost-rental and 20 percent affordable purchase homes.

“We do not wish to increase either the heights or density on the site and it will be relevant statutory bodies, in this case Dublin City Council, who will untimely adjudicate upon the application,” he said.

The company would “endeavour to commence construction in late 2022, subject to a successful planning application”, with all homes completed within four years.

Recent increases in Government subvention and loan schemes meant the housing could be provided at a lower cost than previously estimated.

Affordable homes would cost between €204,000 and €238,000 for a one-bed, and between €250,000 to €306,000 for a three bed.

Cost-rental prices are up to €1,500 a month for a two-bed apartment, the council said.

The Green Party, which tabled the motion for the vote to be deferred, said it needs clarity from Glenveagh on a number of issues.

Councillor Donna Cooney (GP), who is a member of the Oscar Traynor Working Group said more reassurances need to be made.

“We want an absolute guarantee that there will be the agreed tenure mix that we negotiated,” he said.

“40 percent social, 40 percent cost rental and 20 percent affordable purchase.

“We need to be satisfied that this tenure mix and high quality design is maintained. Councillors also need certainty that the land will revert to the council should the agreed plan not go through.

“If the developer borrows against this land, we must be sure that we do not have to buy back the site for more than the sale cost.

“There are risks in this agreement.

“We need all the information to ensure that we get affordable homes built and that public interest is upheld.

“There aren’t many sites like this left in Dublin – we need to get this right.

“Our thanks to the Lord Mayor and colleagues across all parties for facilitating this deferral.”

Fine Gael has said it will vote in favour of the deal while Fianna Fáil is seeking additional affordable housing but is also expected to support the project.

Sinn Féin and some Independent councillors are planning to vote against the scheme, it is understood.

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