More than 150 new social houses planned for Dublin

Plans for more than 150 social houses on three sites in Dublin city, including on lands next to Croke Park, have been submitted to the Government.

Dublin City Council is expecting approval next week for the developments at Dominick Street in the north inner city, Belcamp near Darndale, and Sackville Avenue at the proposed new main entrance to Croke Park. The total cost will be about €30 million.

The largest development will be at Dominick Street Lower where 73 homes will be built at the site of the 1960s flat complex which was to have been regenerated under a public-private partnership (PPP) deal between developer Bernard McNamara and the council.

The Dominick Street scheme was one of five large-scale housing projects the council was pursuing in partnership with Mr McNamara, before the collapse of the PPP system in mid-2008.

Only one of the five, St Michael’s Estate in Inchicore, has since been redeveloped.

The council is now seeking €19 million from the Department of the Environment for the 73 new units opposite the cross-city Luas line under construction on Dominick Street.

Part of the site has also been set aside for a Gaelscoil which will be funded separately.

The next largest development will be at Belcamp on the city’s north fringe.

The council has already built housing in the area but plans to use three “infill” sites for 58 homes at a cost of €6 million.

Regeneration

However, the site likely to attract the most interest is the smallest – Sackville Avenue off the Ballybough Road.

The council bought a terrace of 14 houses 10 years ago through a compulsory purchase order as part of plans for the regeneration of Croke Villas, a 1960s flat complex directly opposite the terrace.

The scheme was to have been undertaken as a PPP with Bennett Developments but this deal collapsed in late 2008.

The council is now seeking €5 million from the department to build 25 new homes to replace the derelict terrace.

The scheme forms part of a deal reached with the GAA for a new “processional boulevard” and main match day entrance to the stadium.

The GAA has offered €10.2 million, of which up to €6.4 million would be used by the council to redevelop Croke Villas, with the remaining money spent on a new road and sports centre.