DCC votes to approve alternative plan for Oscar Traynor Site

Dublin City Council voted to approve the alternative plan for the Oscar Traynor site in Coolock at this month’s council meeting.

The plans propose to develop 100 percent social and affordable homes on the 17-acre site.

Last November, the council voted against a proposal to partially dispose of the lands and sell them to a private development firm, Glenveagh Homes.

It is understood that 853 residential units could be developed on the site.

The new plan will see the development of 40 percent social homes, 40 percent cost-rental homes, and 20 percent affordable purchase homes.

The proposal, which was originally drafted by a working group of councillors, was passed by the housing strategic policy committee in February before being tabled at the full meeting.

The local authority will now seek funding for the project from central Government.

The plans were widely welcomed by councillors.

Sinn Fein councillor for Donaghmede Mícheál Mac Donncha said the development will be a “step forward” for the local community.

“The plan provides for social, cost rental and affordable homes for purchase in a well-planned development with community facilities.

“This plan can and will be delivered,” he says.

“As with any plan for housing on public land it relies on central government for funding.

“If the political will is there the plan can become a reality. Over to you Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien.”

Labour party councillor Alison Gilliland said she “commended every single person who was involved in putting this together,” and said the project is “responding to people in need of affordable, secure housing.”

“We want to see the public housing benefit is maximised on this site,” she said.

Concerns about the project were also raised with chief executive of the council, Owen Keegan saying that he had “serious reservations.”

“We are walking away from an agreement that we made, that the executive spent four years bringing almost to successful conclusion, now we are reneging on that agreement we reached.

“I think that will have long term adverse implications for the city council,” he said.

Fine Gael councillor for Artane-Whitehall Declan Flannagan said that “from a practical viewpoint it is difficult to see the plans come to fruition, unfortunately.”

Flannagan said that issues such the budget and management of the project, will “have to be ironed out.”

Flannagan also said that Fine Gael did not agree with the mixture of housing, saying “we do not feel this is the way forward.”

Green Party councillor Donna Cooney, who helped draft the plans, said that the council “has an opportunity to show we can build public housing on public lands.”

“This has been a cross-party alliance and believe that it can be costed.”

Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Bay North Denise Mitchell also welcomed the vote, saying it was a “boost” to the local people.

“I welcome the vote by DCC to build social and affordable housing on the Oscar Traynor Road site.

“It’s a huge boost to people in the area who’ve been locked out of the housing market because of the ridiculous cost of buying in the area,” she said.

“It’s also a boost to those sitting on social housing waiting lists for over a decade.

“I want to congratulate all of the councillors involved in putting this alternative plan together which is in the interests of the communities we represent.

“Minister Darragh O’Brien now needs to act urgently and get the ball rolling on these houses. We can’t delay this any longer.

“It is in their hands now, and I hope they act quickly.”