LDA launches over 50 affordable purchase homes in Hollystown

The Land Development Agency (LDA) has launched of 57 newly built homes in Hollystown in Dublin 15. 

The homes are part of the Wilkinsons Brook development and are being delivered by the LDA through its Project Tosaigh initiative. They will be officially launched by the Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien.

The A-rated, stylish and ultra-modern houses are being made available through the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, which enables eligible first-time buyers to bridge the gap between the price of the house and the amount of personal funds and mortgage available to them.

The scheme, jointly run by the LDA and Fingal County Council, offers these buyers the opportunity to own a home at Wilkinsons Brook by availing of a shared equity arrangement, which effectively lowers the upfront cost. Purchasers can also avail of the Help to Buy scheme.

The homes were developed for the LDA by Glenveagh Properties and include thirteen 2-bed houses, thirty-nine 3-beds and five 4-bed homes.

With the help of the Government supports and equity contributions, prices for these homes start from as low as €320,000 for the 2-beds, €352,000 for the 3-beds and €399,500 for the 4-beds.

An online application portal for the homes will open soon.

Under the terms of the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, the upfront cost is reduced for the buyer while Fingal County Council will retain an equity share. Successful applicants have the option of buying out this share over time if they so wish. Equity shares are calculated on an individual basis and are linked to an applicant’s income, their savings and their mortgage capacity.

The homes at Wilkinsons Brook have been secured through the LDA’s Project Tosaigh initiative, whereby the Agency steps in to provide the financial commitment required to kickstart or complete stalled or unviable developments and then makes the homes available to buyers or to renters as affordable purchase or on a cost rental basis.

Project Tosaigh is being delivered by the LDA in addition to its direct housing delivery channel, which involves the construction of new affordable homes on State-owned and other acquired land.

In total, the LDA and Glenveagh developed 69 homes at Wilkinsons Brook with 12 being acquired by Fingal County Council for social housing.

The Wilkinsons Brook homes are located in Hollystown, Dublin 15, just minutes from the N3, N2, M50 and M1 road links with regular bus services to the city centre.

The homes have been designed and developed to offer a new and modern take on communal living with carefully planned shared spaces. The development features shared courtyards, off-street and concealed parking, communal squares and landscaped gardens.

The overall design of Wilkinsons Brook was developed by Glenveagh in consultation with Dermot Bannon, the well-known architect and TV presenter. The homes were designed by Proctor & Matthews architects.

Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage said: “It’s a great honour to launch Wilkinsons Brook and I am pleased to see these wonderful homes coming to market. The government is committed to increasing the supply of social and affordable housing and has put the necessary resources in place to ensure that the LDA has the ability to deliver at scale.

“Project Tosaigh is an effective and targeted initiative that ensures stalled or otherwise unviable housing is actually delivered and then made available to rent or, in this case, purchase. I am very impressed by the homes in Wilkinsons Brook and I look forward to the launch of similar developments, which the LDA are in the process of completing. The Agency now has a significant pipeline of homes either delivered or on the way and I am pleased to note that it is on course to become one of the country’s leading homebuilders.”  

John Coleman, Chief Executive of the LDA, said: “It’s fantastic to announce the delivery of more homes under Project Tosaigh, and we are delighted to be partnering with Fingal County Council and Glenveagh on Wilkinsons Brook in Hollystown. This is an exciting development. These high-quality homes are intelligently designed and feature an innovative use of space, which promises a great standard of living for residents. The layout of the homes and the provision of shared spaces, gardens and concealed parking offers a unique take on communal living and the LDA is proud to have been involved in delivering a development that seeks to push the boundaries of design.”

AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council said: “We are delighted to partner with the LDA to bring the houses in Wilkinsons Brook to the market. This development is part of a bigger delivery stream that offers homes across Fingal at various affordable prices. Fingal is a wonderful place to live and work and it is great to have plenty of options for those wanting to buy a home in the county. I would urge all first-time buyers to examine the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme criteria and to contact us if they need more information or wish to apply.”

Councillor Adrian Henchy, Mayor of Fingal, said: “Fingal County Council is committed to providing sustainable and inclusive housing solutions for its residents. This stylish development not only represents our collective aspiration for a vibrant, united, and inclusive community, but it shows we are continuing to deliver opportunities for people to purchase new affordable homes to call their own.”

Tony McLoughlin, Managing Director of Glenveagh, said: “This partnership with the Land Development Agency builds on Glenveagh’s commitment to sustainable, energy efficient, and affordable housing in Fingal and beyond. We’re very proud to contribute to Fingal County Council’s housing supply and in this case with homes for first-time buyers who can apply through the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. The development features an innovative, sustainable, and compact design that connects to existing communities and surroundings. Our goal is to create a thriving community in Wilkinsons Brook and Hollystown.”