Demolition of flats complex to go ahead

DEMOLITION OF the final four blocks of flats at St Michael’s Estate in Inchicore, Dublin, is expected to begin in the coming weeks, paving the way for the long-awaited regeneration of the dilapidated 1970 flats complex.

Construction of new housing on the site is due to begin next September, more than two years since the public private partnership (PPP) scheme for the development collapsed, following the approval last night by Dublin city councillors of the demolition plans.

The council flat complex was one of five social housing schemes in the city which were to have been developed under a PPP deal between developer Bernard McNamara and Dublin City Council.

Following several delays, the deal with Mr McNamara collapsed in May 2008. Attempts were made throughout that summer to rescue the schemes but these were unsuccessful. The council formally terminated its relationship with the developer in August 2008.

Later that year the council announced it would rebuild the social housing in the three largest estates – St Michael’s, O’Devaney Gardens and Dominick Street. It said it would release land for private housing construction to create the planned mixed community in each estate in future years when the property market returned to health.

St Michael’s Estate is the only one of the failed PPPs which has since seen progress towards redevelopment. In June last year, Minister for the Environment John Gormley announced he had sanctioned funding of €7.8 million for the construction of 32 new social units at the estate, a fraction of the 165 which were to have been built by Mr McNamara. Full redevelopment of the social housing element of St Michael’s Estate will cost about €36 million, providing 137 social and affordable units.

Meanwhile, the council last night approved a reduction of €2,977 in the Lord Mayor’s annual allowance. The 5 per cent cut was ordered by the Minister for Finance and will bring the annual stipend down from €66,562 to €59,539, with effect from January 1st last.