Land Development Agency and Galway City Council publish draft Site Development Framework for Dyke Road

  • Public urged to provide feedback on more detailed and refined proposals for over 200 social and affordable apartments
  • Site Development Framework includes commercial, civic and cultural amenities
  • Construction of apartments planned to start by 2026
MO DR Building Aerial 9

The Land Development Agency (LDA) and Galway City Council (GCC) have published a new draft Site Development Framework for a mixed-use development, which includes affordable and social housing and commercial, civic and cultural amenities at Dyke Road, at the edge of Galway’s city centre.

The residential development is the first phase of the overall Development Framework, and a planning application will be submitted later this year. The draft Site Development Framework follows public engagement on the Corrib Causeway: Tóchar na Coiribe vision document for the development.

The Dyke Road site forms part of a strategic brownfield landbank, which is owned by Galway City Council and has been identified for comprehensive redevelopment. The site will be within easy walking distance of Eyre Square and the Headford Road area.

The landbank extends to approximately 1.78 hectares, and the new draft Site Development Framework outlines proposals for a development over three phases. Planning permission for Phase 1 is likely to be sought later this year.

The planned development has been given the working title of ‘Corrib Causeway: Tóchar na Coiribe’ and includes high quality affordable and social apartments, as well as commercial, civic and cultural amenities.

The new draft Site Development Framework effectively refines and adds more detail to the development plans as outlined previously in the vision document published earlier this year. A second public consultation phase, including a public drop-session will now be held to allow for more public feedback.

The Site Development Framework provides details on the planned delivery of 219 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, within a development ranging in height from 5 to 9 storeys, alongside a creche, communal open spaces, playgrounds and new landscaping along Dyke Road.

It's envisaged that 90% of the homes will be cost rental, providing secure, long-term accommodation at a discounted market rate, and will be managed by the LDA. The remaining 10% will be offered as social homes by Galway City Council.

The longer-term plan for the development includes new cycleways and walkways, green spaces and improved transport connections to surrounding amenities including Terryland Forest Park and Galway Shopping Centre.

The draft Site Development Framework can be accessed on the Corrib Causeway website, and information about upcoming meetings and events will be made available online.

Once the consultation process has concluded, a planning application will be submitted, with construction on site expected by 2026.

Phelim O’Neill, Head of Property with the Land Development Agency said:
“I am delighted to see this vision for a new housing development at Corrib Causeway gain momentum. This is an important regeneration project for Galway city, which will provide much needed affordable homes, alongside new community and commercial amenities.

“Delivering affordable and social housing developments as quickly as possible is a priority for the LDA. While we are seeking to accelerate delivery, it is vital that local people and other stakeholders are given opportunities to engage and consult with us on our plans.

“We have already published and engaged with the public on a vision document for the Corrib Causeway development. We are now moving to the next phase and have published a draft Site Development Framework, which sets out a high-level, but more refined proposal for the area. It is vitally important that local residents, businesses and community groups continue to feed into the consultation process. This will allow us, and our partners in Galway City Council to design a sustainable development that caters to the existing and future community.”

Leonard Cleary, Chief Executive of Galway City Council said:

“We have been very pleased with the level of engagement from the public on the Corrib Causeway proposals. It’s a development that has huge potential, and which will reenergise an underutilised site into a new sustainable community.

“Working with our partners in the LDA, we have refined our original vision to deliver this draft Site Development Framework, ahead of a further consultation period. I believe it will deliver a vibrant neighbourhood with quality, affordable homes and sought after green spaces and amenities. I look forward to hearing from local residents, businesses and community groups as to how we can create a development where people are proud to call home.”

For all media enquiries please contact
[email protected]

The LDA is the State’s affordable housing delivery body. It is in the process of delivering more than 10,000 homes on State-owned or acquired land and over 8,000 through the Government’s Project Tosaigh initiative.

The Agency has existing planning permission for around 6,000 affordable homes on State-owned lands with many projects already under construction and others at advanced planning stage.

In addition to the direct delivery of homes on state-owned or other acquired land, the LDA is overseeing Project Tosaigh, an initiative whereby the agency steps in to facilitate the completion of stalled or unviable housing projects and then makes the homes available to renters or to buyers as either cost rental or affordable purchase.

Under Project Tosaigh, the LDA is planning to deliver at least 8,000 homes by 2028 with a significant number of these already delivered. The LDA recently produced the Report on Relevant Public Land, which advised the government of the potential to deliver 67,000 homes on 83 underutilised State-owned sites. The LDA is also advancing plans to purchase private sites with planning permission in the country’s five major cities and recently announced the purchase of a major site in Clongriffin in Dublin, which has the potential for 2,000 homes.

The LDA’s direct delivery projects include the construction of 265 homes at St Kevin’s Hospital in Cork, a former HSE site, and the development of 597 homes in Shanganagh in Dublin in partnership with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

It also includes 817 homes at a site at Castlelands in Balbriggan in Dublin, 345 in Hacketstown in Skerries in Dublin, 219 at Devoy Barracks in Naas, Co. Kildare, 852 on the former Central Mental Hospital site in Dundrum, Dublin 14 and 543 at St Teresa’s Gardens in Dublin’s south inner city in partnership with Dublin City Council.

Project Tosaigh is a Government initiative, whereby the LDA steps in to facilitate the completion of housing projects and then makes the new homes available to renters on a cost rental basis or to purchasers at an affordable price.

The LDA has already launched a number of Project Tosaigh schemes. They include the release of 142 cost rental homes in Archers Wood in Delgany in Wicklow and the phased release of 95 homes in Parklands on Fortunestown Lane in Citywest in Dublin.

In January 2024, the LDA announced the release of over 600 cost rental homes in four locations including 247 at Barnwell Point Apartments in Hansfield in Dublin 15, 236 at The Quarter in Citywest, 86 in Dun Óir in Kilternan in Dublin and 52 in Harpur Lane in Leixlip, Co Kildare. In June of this year, the LDA released 180 cost rental apartments in Cookstown in Tallaght in Dublin.

The Agency has also launched a number of affordable purchase Project Tosaigh developments. These include the phased launch of 92 homes in Clonmore in Mallow in Cork, 95 in Summerfields in Kilbarry in Waterford, 57 in Wilkinsons Brook in Hollystown, Dublin 15 and 50 in Baker Hall in Navan.

Featured News & Media

Sandy Road CGI 7

News

Land Development Agency publishes Sustainable Development Strategy

27/06/2024

Plan sets out ambition for LDA to be leaders in the creation of sustainable homes and communities

Read More arrow
23018 VISION REV09 P1

News

Land Development Agency and Galway City Council seek public views on plans to deliver over 200 homes

07/03/2024

  • Proposed Corrib Causeway development will create new public amenities
  • Planning application expected later this year

Read More arrow