Construction starts on 597 home project in Shanganagh

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in partnership with the Land Development Agency (LDA) have started construction on one of the largest public housing schemes in the state at Shanganagh, Shankill.

The 597-home project will consist of 306 cost rental units, 91 affordable purchase, and 200 social homes.

It is expected that the first homes will be completed in 2024.

The project’s commencement was marked in a sod turning ceremony last week by councillor and An Cathaoirleach Mary Hanafin, An Taoiseach Michaél Martin, chief executive of DLRCoCo Frank Curran, and Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien TD.

“This development is a priority for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and will provide much needed social and affordable homes to the people of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown,” said councillor Hanafin.

“Today is a new beginning for the community here in the county.”

The development will offer a mix of accommodation suitable for single people, couples, and families with 99 of the new homes to have three bedrooms.

It will also be the largest residential scheme to be certified with the ‘passive house’ low energy use standard which has significantly lower energy consumption and associated heating costs compared to other new builds.

“Sustainability features include very low energy demand, low car parking provision (0.54 spaces per home), high bicycle parking provision of over 1,300 spaces, and design features to make working from home easier,” says a spokesperson.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin says the Shanganagh scheme is “exactly the kind of development we envisaged when the LDA was established – a State-owned developer and homebuilder building new housing on publicly owned lands.

“There is a strong mix of different housing types including social housing for people on the housing list, cost-rental properties for low- and middle-income workers living in Dublin, and affordable housing for families to purchase,” he says.

“That’s the right approach.

“It’s really encouraging to see significant progress being made and the start of the largest public housing scheme in the State.

“It’s another important step to achieving our target of building 40,000 new homes a year by the end of the decade.”

Local Senator Victor Boyhan says the planning of the project was “protracted and had gone for too many years,” but welcomes the launch.

“Dun Laoghaire Rathdown councillors and council management working in partnership with the LDA have to be commended for negotiating a deal and a plan that will now deliver high-quality homes,” he says.

They will be “built to the highest standards and adhering to the most up to date sustainable design techniques to provide a range of housing options on the site.”

“The schedule of new house types to be constructed will include 51 terraced and semi-detached houses consisting of 21 two beds and 30 three beds.”

The 546 apartments will consist of two four-beds, 99 three-beds, 302 two-beds, 165 one-beds and 29 studios.