Hundreds of new houses get green light in Tallaght

SOUTH Dublin County Council has agreed to progress an affordable housing development in Killinarden, Tallaght that could provide up to 500 new social, affordable and private homes.

The proposed mix for the Killinarden site is for 300 affordable and 100 private homes with an extra 100 social homes provided.

Affordable housing delivered on the site is expected to include 2-bed apartments/duplex, 3-bed houses/duplex and 4-bed houses.

The development will also include a new community centre and sports pavilion to meet the community and sporting needs of residents.

This aspect of the development is seen as central to connecting the new and existing communities of the area.

“The Killinarden site was the subject of an approved council bid for support from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government under the Serviced Sites Fund for the delivery of an indicative 300 affordable homes,” the council said.

“The final price and income levels will be subject to a competitive tender process supporting both the current estimated land value and projected building costs.”

The Killinarden development was one site listed by the council for the public when launching an expression of interest portal in September 2019.

The launch of the portal followed the allocation of €18 million to South Dublin County Council by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government through the Government’s Serviced Sites Fund to support the development of three sites earmarked for the delivery of affordable homes.

The two other sites include plans for 135 homes in phase one of the approved Clonburris Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) scheme, and 100 homes in Rathcoole.

The council said 2,345 expressions of interest had been received through the portal to date with 1,515 people indicating a preference for Killinarden, of which 382 were first preferences with 401 second preferences and 732 third preferences. 

“The delivery of affordable homes is one aspect of South Dublin County Council’s ambitious hous-ing programme that aims to deliver 4,500 homes over the lifetime of the current council,” the local authority added.

“Estimated to be worth over €1 billion, it is part of the council’s commitment to the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland programme.

However, Deputy Seán Crowe (SF) said the decision to agree to the sale of council-owned land to a private developer would be a bitter blow to all those currently waiting for accommodation on the South Dublin County Council housing list.

 “This is another missed opportunity to deliver up to 500 public homes that would help meet social, affordable, cost rental, and affordable leasehold purchases that are badly needed and not current-ly available,” Deputy Crowe said in statement.