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The Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Construction underway to deliver over 540 homes at former St Teresa's Gardens site
CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY to deliver over 540 social and cost rental homes on the former St. Teresa's Gardens site in Dublin. The final block of flats were demolished in 2016 to make way for the regeneration projection, officially titled the Donore Project. The site is located off Donore Avenue in the Dolphin's Barn area of Dublin 8, adjacent to the Liberties and covers an area of 1.74 hectares. Constructed in the 1950's, St Teresa's Gardens was one of the largest public housing complexes built by Dublin City Council but regeneration plans fell through in 2009 in the midst of the recession. The plans were revived by Dublin City Council in 2014 but then faced another set-back when hazardous waste was discovered at the site. The new affordable housing development, for which planning permission was granted in June 2023, is being delivered by the Land Development Agency (LDA) and Dublin City Council. The LDA is the State's affordable housing delivery body. Artist's impression of the project It includes 542 new homes, including 389 cost-rental and 153 social housing apartments. Advertisement There will be a mix of accommodation types, comprising 233 one-bedroom apartments, 265 two-bedroom apartments and 44 three-bedroom apartments. The new homes will be located next to Dublin City Council's own development of 54 social homes on Margaret Kennedy Road which were also built on part of the former St. Teresa's Gardens land. Once complete, the Donore Project will include a new creche, community spaces, a café/retail unit, mobility hub and the new home for the Donore Boxing Club. Construction on a multipurpose sports pitch is to follow too. The LDA said the project is part of an ongoing plan to create a 'sustainable and integrated new community in the area'. 'In tandem with semi-private open spaces for residents, it will deliver public open spaces and recreational facilities designed to complement and connect neighbouring developments,' said a spokesperson. These initial enabling works are complete, with the main contract for construction has been awarded to John Paul Construction and is underway. Housing Minister James Browne said it's 'great to see this part of Dublin benefitting from such a transformative project'. Meanwhile, John Coleman, Chief Executive of the LDA, described Donore Project as a 'flagship development as it demonstrates our ability to deliver housing on State-owned land'. He said it also showcases the LDA's ' ambition to create new liveable, sustainable and integrated communities that can cater for the needs of families, older people and renters'. Elsewhere, Richard Shakespeare, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, said the Council has 'engaged extensively with local residents and businesses, and we are confident that once completed, the Donore Project will add significantly to what is an already thriving community'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
542 new homes to be built on former St Teresa's Gardens site
The construction of a long-awaited regeneration project at the former St Teresa's Gardens site in Dublin's south inner city is being offically launched this morning, with the first homes due to be completed by early 2027. The development by the Land Development Agency and Dublin City Council off Donore Avenue near the Liberties in Dublin 8 will deliver 542 new homes along with a crèche, community spaces and a new home for the local boxing club. A sports pitch, cafe and mobility hub are also due to be developed on the site. The new homes, on the four acre site, will be located next to Dublin City Council's development of 54 social homes on Margaret Kennedy Road on part of the former St Teresa's Gardens land. The development, being built by John Paul Construction, will have 233 one-bedroom apartments, 265 two-bedroom apartments and 44 three-bedroom apartments. 389 will be cost-rental while 153 will be social housing apartments A regeneration plan for St Teresa's Gardens, which was once one of the city's largest flat complexes, was first mooted 25 years ago in 2005, but in 2009 the initial plans fell victim to the collapse of the property market. Some blocks were refurbished by 2015 but plans to construct new homes were delayed after hazardous waste was found and the soil required decontamination. A new plan for the regeneration of the remainder of the site and the surrounding area emerged between 2017 and 2018 but parts of that have also faced setbacks and delays. The Land Development Agency's CEO John Coleman says the project is a flagship development for the organisation and its first in Dublin's inner city "It demonstrates our ability to deliver housing on State-owned land and our ambition to create not just new homes, but new liveable, sustainable and integrated communities that can cater for the needs of families, older people and renters." Richard Shakespeare, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, said: "From the very beginning of this process, we have engaged extensively with local residents and businesses, and we are confident that once completed, the Donore Project will add significantly to what is an already thriving community." The LDA, the State's affordable housing delivery body, says it is in the process of delivering more than 19,000 homes on State-owned or acquired land and over 8,000 through homebuilder partnerships. The LDA and Dublin City Council are partnering on a number of projects on lands owned by the local authority in Cherry Orchard in west Dublin and Cromcastle Road in Coolock in north Dublin, while plans are under way for a similar project in Bluebell in south central Dublin.
Irish Times
24-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Almost 2,000 applications for just 20 Dublin cost rental homes
Almost 2,000 people have applied for just 20 cost-rental homes in north Dublin , with applications open for another week. There have been 1,857 applications for 20 one- and two-bedroom apartments built by approved housing body (AHB) Respond at Griffin Point in Clongriffin, Dublin 13 . Applications opened on its website on Tuesday and will remain open until May 30th. Rent for the one-bedroom apartments will be €1,326 per month, while the two-bedroom units are €1,478 per month. READ MORE Griffin Point will have a total of 64 cost-rental homes in its wider 397-unit development when completed in February 2026. Cost-rental homes are designed for people who do not qualify for social housing but have a household net annual income of less than €66,000. [ Ireland's rising rents: 'Our budget would have been €1,300 a month, there isn't even anything listed for that' Opens in new window ] Rents must be 25 per cent lower than regular market rents in the area and are based on the cost of building, managing and maintaining the homes. Tenants also have long-term security, with leases of several years' duration available. The homes are delivered by AHBs, local authorities and the Land Development Agency (LDA) and do not include any profit for a developer. The local authorities and AHBs apply for government funding and grants to help cover the cost of building or buying these homes. The State missed its target for delivery of social homes last year by almost 20 per cent, with just 10,595 new-build social homes delivered, compared with its target of 12,930. Responding to the figures when they were published by the Department of Housing in April, Minister for Housing James Browne acknowledged the completions had fallen short of the targets and pointed to the performance of local authorities. He said he would publish quarterly performance reports that would 'clearly outline' how each local authority is delivering on individual targets for new-build social housing. However, the report found a record level of cost-rental homes were delivered by AHBs last year, seeing the figure more than double to more than 1,200 homes. A total of 3,860 cost-rental homes have been delivered in the State since the scheme was launched.
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Government 'considering possibility' of savings scheme to fund housing, says minister
A State-led savings scheme to help finance housebuilding across the country is being considered by Government, the housing minister has confirmed. In a significant change of policy, James Browne is examining the possible introduction of a scheme where the public could invest savings, with funds going towards the construction of homes. 'It is something we're looking at. We have to be very careful what it looks like, how it's funded,' Mr Browne said. In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr Browne confirmed that alongside a possible savings scheme, the Government will press ahead with changes to rent pressure zones, will expand renters' rights, and is looking to extend the remit of the Land Development Agency. The Housing Commission has called on the Government to consider establishing a private savings fund. The Social Democrats recently suggested any scheme should have 'favourable interest rates' and no deposit interest retention tax applied, with funds raised to be channelled to agencies like Home Building Finance Ireland. Taoiseach Micheál Martin previously poured cold water on this idea, claiming the Social Democrat's plan might deliver housing funding, but would not help deliver properties in the short-term. Mr Browne described the Social Democrat's proposal as an special savings incentive-style account, which he believes would have been 'criticised by the same party' had Government brought it forward. While he has been cautious about the scheme, he confirmed work is under way to see if it would work. However, he said it would not provide the level of finance to meet the amount of private monies needed for housing. It might deliver a certain amount of it, it might be welcome. It will not come anywhere near the level of finance that we need. 'We need that international finance and that is a challenge.' He said the model being examined at present is the French 'Livre A' and how it can be used, but it would take a 'lot of preparation". On rent pressure zones, Mr Browne said changes would be made to the system given they are 'significantly inhibiting' the delivery of apartments in Dublin. He said the 2% rent pressure zone cap is providing 'uncertainty' to international investors. 'They [international investors] won't even look at Ireland as long as that uncertainty is there, because they could find themselves making a loss,' Mr Browne said. He said the Government is looking at ways of ensuring developers come in and deliver apartments and can make a yield on their investment, but not make 'any kind of excessive profit'. Mr Browne said the Land Development Agency should continue with its focus on social and affordable delivery, but there is room for a 'private element' as well. 'It all has to be about unlocking homes for people where they need them,' he said. Read More Local councils need to take back control of building houses
BreakingNews.ie
08-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Planning application submitted for over 380 apartments in south Dublin
A planning application has been submitted for over 380 apartments in Bluebell in Dublin. Dublin City Council and the Land Development Agency are looking to build beside the Grand Canal. They say it comes after more than a year of extensive consultation with the local community. 150 of the units will be social homes, with the rest going to the cost-rental scheme. The site is located on Bluebell Avenue and Bluebell Road, Bluebell, Dublin 12. The proposed development will consist of: Advertisement Demolition of existing above-ground structures on site, including the existing 36 no. 2 bed maisonettes and the existing community facility known as the Bungalow (which is being relocated within the site), and the construction of a residential development set out in 5 no. blocks, ranging in height from 5 to 9 storeys to accommodate 383 no. apartments, 3 no. community / cultural units and a crèche; The site will accommodate 141 no. car parking spaces, 945 no. bicycle parking spaces, storage, services and plant areas. Landscaping will include a new central public plaza, residential courtyards, and a western linear parkland which includes relocated allotments; The 5 no. residential buildings range in height from 5 storeys to 9 storeys accommodating 383 no. apartments comprising 22 studios, 131 no. 1 bed units, 192 no. 2 bed units (30 no. 2 bed- 3 person and 162 no. 2 bed- 4 person) and 38 no. 3 bed units. The residential buildings are arranged centrally on the site and around residential courtyards at podium and ground level. Balconies and terraces to be provided on all elevations at all levels for each block. The breakdown of residential accommodation is as follows: Block 1 is a 7 to 8 storey building accommodating 80 no. units comprising 1 no. studio, 28 no. 1 bed units, 43 no. 2 bed units, 8 no. 3 bed units. Block 2 is a 6 to 9 storey building accommodating 86 no. units comprising 23 no. 1 bed units, 50 no. 2 bed units, 13 no. 3 bed units. Block 3A/3B is a 6 storey building accommodating 83 no. units comprising 10 no. studios, 43 no. 1 bed units, 30 no. 2 bed units. Block 4A/4B is a 5 to 6 storey building, accommodating 70 no. units comprising 1 no. studio, 22 no. 1 bed units, 34 no. 2 bed units, 13 no. 3 bed units. Block 5 is a 5 to 7 storey building accommodating 64 no. units comprising 10 no. studios, 15 no. 1 bed units, 35 no. 2 bed units, 4 no. 3 bed units They said any person within four weeks from the date of publication of this notice, apply to An Bord Pleanála for a screening determination as to whether the development would be likely to have significant effects on the environment. Dublin City Council said they are now open to submissions or observations in relation to the proposed development, dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the development would be situated, may be made on their website before 23:59pm on June 19th, 2025. You can make a submission about the development here .
