The Land Development Agency (LDA) and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLR) have welcomed the decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant permission for 934 homes and amenities to be developed at Dundrum Central on the site of the former Central Mental Hospital.
The LDA has been working in partnership with DLR and engaging extensively in the local community to unlock this land and maximise the delivery of affordable homes on the site. The development will see the construction of 753 new affordable for sale and cost rental homes, as well as 181 social homes. Once completed, Dundrum Central will significantly enhance the housing supply in the Dundrum area.
The development will comprise a mix of housing options including apartments, duplexes and houses to cater for all needs, whether it be a single person, a family, older residents, first time buyers or renters.
A key element of Dundrum Central will be the associated services and facilities being delivered, including a community centre with a multipurpose sports facility, a medical centre, retail units, a café, a crèche and a new public plaza.
In May 2023, a separate permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála for 852 affordable homes, however, the development has not proceeded due to a legal challenge, which is being defended by the LDA.
Responding to concerns that were raised during the initial consultation phase, the approved scheme includes reduced apartment building heights, now ranging from 2-8 stories.
When realised, Dundrum Central will create a well-serviced new community in a prime location in South Dublin, which will be sustainably integrated into the surrounding locality.
John Coleman, CEO of the Land Development Agency said,
‘The LDA welcomes the decision from An Coimisún Pleanála to approve this planning application at Dundrum Central. This is an important milestone for a long-awaited project, which is vital to delivering much needed affordable housing in an area with a significant unmet need.
‘Having engaged with the community since project inception, we understand how necessary this project is. We are eager to progress the project and deliver on our commitments to current and future residents through our partnership with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.’
Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said,
‘Dundrum Central will provide an excellent mix of high quality homes and community facilities in the heart of south Dublin. We are delighted to receive permission for this landmark development, which will transform a currently underutilised campus into a thriving new community.
‘Building on the success of Shanganagh Castle Estate in Shankill, we are confident that our partnership with the LDA will deliver a sustainable urban community in a sought-after location’.
For further information on Dundrum Central see here.
The Land Development Agency (LDA) is the State’s affordable housing delivery body. Its main role is to acquire and develop State and other land to deliver affordable homes to address the country’s housing need.
The Agency has commenced construction on various state sourced and privately acquired land and has a delivery pipeline in excess of 25,000 homes through its direct delivery and homebuilder partnership channels.
Additionally, the LDA undertakes work on large-scale longer-term strategic areas by master-planning and bringing forward planning applications in locations such as Limerick Colbert Quarter, the Digital Hub in Dublin and Sandy Road in Galway.
The LDA is also responsible for a range of public functions including research, master planning and the development of construction guidelines and best practices. The LDA has produced and now regularly updates the Report on Relevant Public Land, which identified 102 State owned sites with the potential for 70,830 homes.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLR) is the Local Authority for the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Area, with a clear vision and mission to create a progressive, sustainable, inclusive, and accessible county underpinned by a strong economy. With over 233,000 residents and more than 85,878 employees in the county, DLR plays a vital role as a service provider, facilitator, regulator, and enabler of economic and community development.
Sweeping down from the mountains to the sea, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County is located between the outer suburbs of Dublin City and the Dublin Mountains. It is a smart, dynamic county; attractive, inclusive and accessible to all. With its unparallelled 17km of coastline and some of the best natural amenities in Ireland, there is excellent access to transport, employment opportunities, leisure facilities, education, shopping and an attractive public realm.
One of our key priorities at DLR is to plan and invest in infrastructure that meets current and future demands. Housing remains a central focus, and we are dedicated to providing a range of adaptable housing options for people at all stages of life. Additionally, we are increasing the availability of affordable and social housing to meet the needs of our growing population, while also supporting our town centres and regenerating villages across the county.
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