Dundrum: DLR passes motion calling on all homes to be 100% social

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councillors passed a motion on Monday, calling for all housing that will developed on the Dundrum Mental Hospital site to be 100% social, affordable or affordable purchase homes.

Labour councillor for the area Peter O’Brien says that representatives are weary of the site being acquired by a private developer.

“There is a real risk that the development of ‘Dundrum Central’ on the site of the Central Mental Hospital will see the sale of a portion of that land to a private developer, allowing profiteering,” he says.

“There are plans to build about 1,300 homes on this publicly owned site and I want to ensure that these homes are 100% social and affordable units.

“This would include a mix of affordable homes for rent, known as ‘cost rental’ as well as homes that are affordable for ordinary workers.”

O’Brien says that the motion aims to ensure that the site stays in the ownership of the local authority.

“We can’t allow a part of this resource to be auctioned off by the Land Development Agency.

“My motion was backed unanimously by all councillors there from across the political spectrum,” he says.

“Under the current LDA plans only 30-40% of the homes on this site would be affordable or social. That’s not good enough.

“I am urging the Minister for Housing to take on board our concerns and ensure the land isn’t sold off in any way, and that the homes delivered are affordable.

“It is important that our elected representatives in the Dáil also take on board our concerns.

“All of the TDs from our constituency support the government which is passing the bill to formally set up the Land Development Agency.

“We need to ensure all the homes are social and affordable.”