Plans progress for €67m social housing scheme

A SINGLE design and management process for the proposed social housing development at the Sons of Divine Providence (SDP) site in Ballyfermot, is deemed the best way to proceed, according to stakeholders involved in the project.

The main stakeholders are Dublin City Council (DCC), who are developing the site in partnership with the SDP as part of an intergenerational housing scheme.

Approval was granted last year by the Dept of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) for €67m in funding for the construction of 176 units at lands on the Sarsfield Road site.

DCC, following consultation with DHLGH, have agreed with SDP that the city council will manage the project as a Central Purchasing Body, which will require a memorandum of understanding being agreed between the parties.

Cllr Daithí Doolan (SF) asked for an up to date report on the progress of the project at this week’s South Central area meeting.

The 1.5 hectare site is bounded by Sarsfield Road, First Avenue, Sarsfield House and Long Meadows pitch and putt grounds in Ballyfermot.

According to the report, SDP have ownership of most of the site under a 250 year leasehold from the council and have freehold ownership of other parts of it.

Under the partnership scheme, DCC would own 116 and SDP 60 of the proposed dwellings.

Stage 1 approval was granted last August but a number of issues needed to be resolved including a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).

The National Transport Authority (NTA) indicated that a temporary CPO would be made for part of the Sarsfield lands to facilitate a temporary compound needed for the construction of a Bus Connects route on Sarsfield Avenue.

This would have caused significant delays to the development, but following discussions, this requirement was not included in the CPO order lodged by the NTA with An Bord Pleanála.

According to the city council, the proposed CPO does not present a significant obstacle to the development.

DHLGH also noted different ownership models on the site – a Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) and the other an Approved Housing Body – and directed DCC to address this at Stage 2 as it “would have resulted in uneven development of the site”.

“In addition, efficiencies and savings can be delivered by having a single design, planning, tender, construction management and certification process,” said the council report.

Following agreement on terms, it is proposed to proceed to the appointment of a design team, according to DCC.

Various plans have been in the works for years at the Sarsfield Road site, which is owned by the Sons of Divine Providence.

The order arrived in Ireland in 1970, and operated a homeless hostel for boys in Ballyfermot from 1974 until 2001.

They have operated an elderly care unit on site at Fr Bedoni Court for years, which has capacity for approximately 60 residents.