Concern expressed over St Laurence’s Park re-development

Stillorgan Sinn Féin representative Gráinne Ferris has said a lack of clarity from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on the ratio of social, affordable rental and affordable to buy homes at the St Laurence’s Park re-development is a “cause for concern.”

The re-development, agreed at this week’s Council meeting, will include 88 apartments and a library and has been welcomed by Ms Ferris.

However, according to Ms Ferris, when asked at the meeting for a breakdown of the type of units to be built, Chief Executive Philomena Poole could only say that it will depend on the tender price.

“This is a cause for concern as the cost of building these units may preclude an adequate percentage of social homes being delivered by the Council,” Gráinne Ferris.

“This would be a disaster as there have been no social homes built in the Stillorgan area for many, many years and the assumption was that the maisonettes, which were social homes, would be replaced by social homes.

“Regarding the residents’ concerns vis a vis the construction phase of this re-development and further traffic congestion and chaos, Ms Poole indicated that the Council will explore the possibility of providing a dedicated community liaison in order to work with local businesses and residents, particularly those in St Laurence’s Park.

“She added that the Council will continue to work with residents.

“The latter remark might lead us to believe that the Council has been engaging with residents on its proposal to re-develop St Laurence’s Park but this was not the case as the residents informed me that they were not consulted by the Council on this matter at all.

“Hopefully this will change and the residents and local businesses will be consulted by the Council, both prior to and during the construction phase.”