The Land Development Agency (LDA) and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council (DLR) have announced the opening of applications for 40 affordable purchase apartments in Shanganagh Castle Estate in Shankill in Dublin.
The homes, which include 10 one-bed apartments and 30 two-bed apartments ranging in size from 50 to 84 square metres, were directly delivered by the LDA in partnership with DLR at the award-winning Shanganagh Castle Estate in Dublin 18.
The 597-home development also includes 51 affordable purchase homes, 306 cost rental apartments and 200 social housing apartments. The newly completed passive apartments are being made available through the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, which enables eligible first-time buyers to bridge the gap between the price of the home and the amount of personal and mortgage funds available to them.
The scheme, which is being run by DLR, involves buyers availing of a shared equity arrangement, which effectively lowers the upfront cost and enables DLR to hold an equity interest in the property until it is repaid or the house is sold. Purchasers can also avail of the Help to Buy scheme.
With the help of Government supports and equity contributions, prices for the new apartments start from as low as €263,500 for the one-beds and €348,750 for the two-beds.
An online application portal for the homes will open at 12pm on Wednesday 23rd July and remain open until 5pm on Wednesday 13th August 2025. Under the terms of the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, the upfront cost is reduced for the buyer while DLR retain an equity share in the property. Homeowners have the option of buying out this share over time.
Equity shares are calculated on an individual basis and are linked to an applicant’s income, their savings and their mortgage capacity.
All of the apartments at Shanganagh Castle Estate are built to Passive House standard, which means the homes are better insulated and designed to be more energy efficient. This also means they have low running costs. The LDA and DLR launched the sales process for 51 affordable purchase houses in Shanganagh Castle Estate in October 2024, with all homes now offered to successful applicants.
John Coleman, CEO of the LDA said:
“This is a great opportunity for eligible would-be homeowners to buy their own apartment at a price they can afford thanks to the shared equity scheme. The scheme allows people to pay an amount significantly lower than the market value of the apartment, which, in turn, leads to lower mortgage repayments. Over time, a homeowner can choose to start buying back the equity, but they don’t have to start this process until they are in a position to do so.
Frank Curran, Chief Executive, DLR said:
“We are delighted to have affordable purchase apartments as part of the housing mix in Shanganagh Castle Estate. Owners will enjoy living in a well-served and desirable location next to the sea, beside Shanganagh Park and close to both the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains. There are a host of amenities, facilities and public transport options nearby and both Shankill and Bray are within easy reach.”
Further information about the apartments and Shanganagh Castle Estate can be found at www.shanganaghcastle.ie
Affordable Purchase homes are available to would-be homeowners who do not qualify for mortgages or other state backed housing supports due to their income levels, but who are struggling to otherwise purchase their own house. The scheme is targeted at first-time buyers, but there are some exceptions.
Through the support of the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, prospective homeowners are able to bridge the gap between the price of the house and the amount of personal funds, Help to Buy (HTB) funding and mortgage funding available to them thus enabling would be purchasers to own a newly built, A-rated home.
The scheme involves a shared equity arrangement, which effectively lowers the upfront cost of a house and allows a local authority to hold an equity interest in the property for a period of time until it is repaid by the purchaser or the house is sold.
Shanganagh Castle Estate is the first major direct delivery project to be completed by the LDA. In keeping with its mission to unlock state-owned land and to deliver large-scale housing projects, the Agency partnered with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLR) to deliver a total of 597 homes on land owned by the local authority. In February 2025 it was awarded Placemaking Initiative of the Year at the National Property Awards.
Construction began on site in September 2022 and the first homes were launched in September 2024 on time and on budget. The development is superbly located next to Shanganagh Park and within easy reach of both Shankill and Bray. Residents have easy access to a host of shops, services and facilities as well as amenities such as golf courses, hiking trails and beaches.
The N11 and M50 roads are nearby while the location is also well-served by existing public transport. There are regular buses running past the estate to and from the city centre and Dún Laoghaire with a new Bus Connects route planned.
The nearby Shankill DART station provides access to Dublin city centre, and a new station is being developed at Woodbrook, which is a 10-minute walk from the estate.
There are also a range of primary and secondary schools in the area, including Scoil Mhuire, Woodbrook College, St. Gerard's School, Presentation College, St. Killian's, and Loreto Secondary School.
The LDA’s core purpose involves the creation of dynamic and sustainable new communities in addition to the delivery of new homes.
Shanganagh Castle Estate is designed to the highest environmental standards and involves the use of sustainable construction methods. Designed by ABK Architects and constructed by Walls Construction, the apartments in the estate will be the largest development in Europe to be built to Passive House standards.
Active travel and community integration was a key consideration for both the LDA and DLR, with a focus on bicycle parking provision, working from home features, communal green and play spaces, a dedicated creche, café and community facilities.