Concerns raised about sites for new rapid-build houses

By Laura Lyne

A SITE in Tallaght previously earmarked for permanent social housing has been put to public consultation as the first rapid-build housing development for South County Dublin.

The site, located at St Aidan’s in Brookview, has been earmarked for a 50-unit infill housing development that was due to go to public consultation last year.

Following the announcement of the national housing strategy, plans were delayed and the site was instead chosen as one of the rapid-build housing sites that are required in the county as part of the strategy.

As part of the plans, which are available to the public, 80 rapid-build three-bedroom units will be constructed, along with five traveller accommodation units with access to the site via Brookfield Road.

Concerns about the rapid-build portion of the development were raised by local Sinn Féin councillor Louise Dunne, who had previously welcomed proposals for permanent social housing on the site.

Cllr Dunne told The Echo: “I would love to see 80 houses going in there, if they were permanent, as has been on the cards for a long time.

“I am not objecting to houses going in there. I am objecting to temporary houses under the directive of rapid-build housing.

“We should be looking at building houses that will be permanent homes for families, these concerns are more about families going into temporary housing without a permanent solution.

“The original plan which myself and residents were happy about was for permanent housing, and I learned about four months ago through the Housing SPC that they would become rapid-build, and I raised it straight away with the council.

“We have this situation yet again where new social housing, this time in the form of rapid-build housing, is going into only West Tallaght and North Clondalkin.

“This is despite the fact that a motion was submitted by my colleague, Cllr Cathal King, and was approved for the new County Development Plan that any further infill would be balanced throughout the county.”

Labour councillor and Deputy Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Martina Genockey, encouraged local residents to take part in the Part 8 process.

Cllr Genockey told The Echo: “The plans have been coming for a while, and I believe they are positive.

“There’s a lot of people in the local areathat are in need of social housing and much-needed traveller accommodation and improvements will also be included.

“Rapid build is just another way for them to be built and quicker, and it is still essentially housing for families.

“Changes will be made to the plans and I believe it will be largely positive and I encourage people to have a look and take part in the Part 8 process.”

Details about the Part 8 proposal for St Aidan’s can be viewed online at www.sdcc.ie or http://consult.sdublincoco.ie.

Submissions or observations on the development will be accepted until Thursday, September 15 at 4pm.