Plans progress for social housing in Ballyfermot

COMPLEX legal issues had to be worked through in order to progress plans for a social housing development at the Sons of Divine Providence (SDP) site in Ballyfermot.

The main stakeholders are Dublin City Council (DCC) in partnership with the SDP.

Other bodies involved are the Dept Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), who approved €67m in funding last year for the construction of 176 units at lands on the Sarsfield Road site.

According to a report by DCC, the National Transport Authority (NTA) indicated that a temporary CPO (compulsory purchase order) 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.

Speaking at the recent Dublin South Central area meeting, Alan Sherry, Senior Executive Officer DCC told members he understood their frustrations at the drawn out process, but that the council are working hard and very active on the project.

“I can assure you it is not for the want of trying – there were legal issues to be gotten through and they were complex legal issues as the report that you have indicates,” said Mr Sherry.

“We are at the other side of that and at the end of that particular process, which is a difficult process so hopefully we will be moving along.”

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

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