Build to rent apartment plans are ‘criminal’ for Naas Road

PROPOSALS for thousands of build to rent apartments in the Naas Road area, despite a lack of infrastructure, is “criminal” and will lead to legacy problems for future generations, warn local representatives.

Councillors were debating the latest in a long line of SHD (Strategic Housing Development) put forward at the Dublin South Central area committee this week, in relation to plans for 545 build to rent apartments on lands at Concorde Industrial Estate on the Naas Road.

The application was made in December by Silvermount Limited and includes provision for 270 car parking spaces, 668 bicycle spaces, and 12 commercial units.

Cllr Sophie Nicoullaud (GP), who blasted the proliferation of build to rents as “absolutely criminal”, estimates there to be in the region of 10,000 units currently proposed for the Naas Road area.

This includes plans for 1,102 residential units – the vast majority build-to-rent apartments – at the Royal Liver Assurance Retail Park on the Old Naas Road, and 265 build to rent apartments at the former Dulux site on Davitt Road.

There is also the City Edge scheme being devised by Dublin City and South Dublin County Councils.

Up to 40,000 homes are envisaged for a “re-imagining” on lands in the Naas Road, Ballymount and Park West areas.

While the majority of these homes are expected to take 30-40 years, the first 4,000 already have planning permission and could be built within the next five years.

Speaking to The Echo on Tuesday, Cllr Nicoullaud said the restrictions on build to rent apartment blocks being proposed as part of Dublin City Council’s new development plan, effect mostly the inner city and provide little in the way of positive change for Naas Road residents.

Despite seeing new “site after site”, she said councillors have “yet to see a presentation from the road authority, from the Dept Education, and so on.”

Cllr Nicoullaud estimates in the region of 10,000 units being built and proposed for the area, car parking spaces at approximately 3,000 “yet nothing” in terms of increased frequency for Luas and local transport links.

“Very disappointing not to see the infrastructure again. We will be left with an impossible situation to face climate action. We have to act but we are just doing the opposite,” said the Green Cllr.

Cllr Hazel De Nortúin (PBP) fears more build to rent developments will mean “walking towards disaster.”

“I find it very difficult when developments come before us and the only reason being, the lack of inspiration when you hear build to rent. When you compile that into context with all the surrounding developments that come before us, I’d like to be corrected if that is the case, that any of them weren’t build to rent, from the Dulux site to the Herberton site, and other sites,” said Cllr De Nortúin

“All along the Nass Road, it seems to be a case of build to rent and we have said it before, it is not a case of against housing, God knows we need more housing, but what type of housing we are bringing into the area. Given the way the market is today, what is the affordability for people to try and have places like that. I’ve a lot of young adults within my family and they are all in on top of us because they are never going to be able to afford places like this.”

Cllr De Nortúin was interested to know if the city council will be propping up private developments in the schemes via HAP.

Cllr Daithi Doolan said councillors were effectively made “redundant” by SHD legislation, which fast-tracks private development and led to “short term gain at the expense of long term pain for the community.”

Doolan estimates the proposed SHD at Concorde Industrial Estate will house 1,650 people, and raised concerns of the impact on local transport.

He also asked questions on private ownership, and if large chunks of the development will end up in the hands of vulture funds.

“Right along the whole length of the canal we are going to see massive developments – the infrastructure there cannot absorb these huge numbers,” said Cllr Doolan.

Cllrs Vincent Jackson and Marie Devine fear large scale SHD sites in private ownership, and with heavy HAP tenancies, will lead to significant legacy problems in the years ahead.

DCC Senior Executive Planner, Kiaran Sweeney acknowledged the council have “concerns” about the concentration of build to rents, in particular “one and two bed units” and it’s viability on the long term future, but from a planning perspective they have to comply with the guidelines.

In relation to infrastructure and public transport, Mr Sweeney said the application will be referred to the transport section “as usual” and NTA for comment.

He said it was his understanding that the Luas is already operating at capacity along the Naas Road.