Kelly sanctions major Croke Park development deal

Plans for a major development at Croke Park, including a new main entrance to the stadium and the regeneration of the Croke Villas flat complex, have been sanctioned by Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly.

Dublin City Council last year reached agreement with the GAA, following three years of negotiations, to transfer lands to the sports organisation for a payment of €6.4 million.

However the council was unable to sign off on the deal without the Minister’s approval.

The GAA wanted the land to develop a new “processional boulevard” to the stadium from Ballybough Road, which would become the only match day entrance, taking crowds out of the surrounding streets.

In exchange, the council would get funding to start the redevelopment of Croke Villas, a 1960s flat complex on Sackville Avenue, which was to have been regenerated through a public-private partnership that collapsed in 2008.

However, Croke Villas was one of the estates identified as having the potential to house families under Mr Kelly's action plan on homelessness, published before Christmas last year, following the death near Leinster House of homeless man Jonathan Corrie.

Refurbish flats

Mr Kelly had directed the council to refurbish empty flats in estates that were awaiting approval for regeneration and make them available to homeless families.

Just two estates, Croke Villas and O’Devaney Gardens, were judged by the council management as having that potential, but councillors said they would block plans largely on the grounds it would hold back the full regeneration of the complexes.

Mr Kelly has now conceded the issue and is allowing the council to go ahead with the GAA deal.

The deal, which will be presented to local councillors next week for approval, would see Croke Park Ltd pay €3.9 million towards the regeneration of Croke Villas and €2.5 million for the new road.

New sports pavilion

On the land gained, which includes part of the current Croke Villas site, the GAA would apply for planning permission for build a new sports pavilion – including a handball alley – and a new entrance to the stadium.

The council’s plans involve a four- to five-year building programme starting with the refurbishment of seven houses on Ballybough Road, the construction of 25 new homes to replace a derelict terrace opposite Croke Villas on Sackville Avenue, the widening of Sackville Avenue, and the demolition and redevelopment of Croke Villas.

The chairman of the council’s central area committee, Independent councillor Nial Ring, said while he is supportive of the overall concept, he intends to seek to defer the issue until more detail is made available to councillors.

“The total number of social housing units has not been specified. We need to know how many will be funded through the €3.9 million and how much money will be provided by Mr Kelly.”

A dispute between the GAA and residents groups over the existing handball alley needed to be resolved before any sale could go ahead, Mr Ring said.