The Land Development Agency (LDA) in partnership with Ballymore and Lydon is beginning construction on a total of 1,162 homes in north County Dublin.
The sod was turned by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, on two new housing developments – Hampton Demesne, formerly Castlelands in Balbriggan, and Priory Fields, formerly Hacketstown, Skerries.
The Minister was joined by representatives from the LDA and its construction partners Ballymore and Lydon, as well as Fingal County Council.
The Hampton Demesne development, being built by Ballymore, will comprise 817 affordable purchase, cost rental and social homes. They will be delivered across a range of housing options including one-, two- and three-bed apartments; two-, three-, four-bed houses; and three-bed duplexes.
Phase 1 of the development includes 207 Affordable Purchase homes and 52 social homes as well as the new Castlelands link road which will connect Hamilton Road and the R127. It is expected to be complete by the end of 2027.
The development will be well serviced by bike and car parking and a range of amenities including a childcare facility and outdoor play area and a local neighbourhood retail centre. The development will also include a new park with recreational amenities for all age groups, including playgrounds, multi-use games areas, basketball courts, outdoor gym, and skateboard plaza.
The new link road, which bridges the Dublin-Belfast railway, will be a valuable addition to the current road infrastructure, and will also unlock land earmarked for a new swimming pool being brought forward by Fingal County Council, as well as a future school site.
Priory Fields will deliver 345 affordable homes, including 101 social, 117 cost rental and 127 affordable purchase homes. The first phase of 176 homes, being built by Lydon, consists of one-, two-, and three-bed apartments, ranging in height from two to four storeys. The three-bed houses will be delivered in Phase 2.
The development includes a crèche, community space, pedestrian and cycle routes and parking. Local road and junction upgrades will be in delivered in tandem with the new Phase 1 homes to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. A nature-based drainage system will also be constructed on the northern part of the site. This will be fully landscaped, creating an attractive linear green space that enhances the surrounding environment and provides visual and ecological benefits.
Well situated, Priory Fields is a 10-minute walk from Skerries train station and a short distance from Skerries town centre.
Collectively, these developments will deliver 1,162 new affordable homes, breathing new life into two strong communities in north Country Dublin. Once completed, the affordable purchase homes will be made available to eligible buyers through the Local Authority.
James Browne, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage of Ireland, said,
'Brilliant to break ground on two essential new housing developments, which will deliver over 1,100 affordable and social homes in north County Dublin. This Government’s top priority is to get homes built faster for people who need them. I want people to be access suitable houses in which they can grow up and grow old as part of a community.
The Land Development Agency is the State’s affordable housing delivery body, seriously ramping up in the last year in particular. As Minister, I want to ensure it has the necessary resources to fulfil its remit and to deliver at pace and at scale the high quality homes we need. These projects are a further sign of Government progress to deliver homes for people across the country.'
John Coleman, Chief Executive of the Land Development Agency said,
'These are significant developments for the LDA and mark a major delivery milestone in the provision of affordable housing. I would like to recognise the considerable work undertaken by both the LDA and its construction partners Ballymore and Lydon as well as colleagues in Fingal County Council in getting us to this stage for both projects.
These sites are superbly located and will enhance the existing communities in Balbriggan and Skerries. When these developments come to fruition, the homes and amenities will foster lasting communities and generate a positive social impact for new and existing residents. I would like to thank Minister Browne for joining us to turn the sod and for the Government’s ongoing support of the LDA’s ambitions.'
AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council said,
'It’s hugely exciting to see work underway on two excellent affordable housing projects in Fingal. This quality and mixed tenure of these developments is exactly what is needed in both communities. The commitment to societal impact from all partners will ensure that these new developments, including the amenities, facilities and infrastructure being developed, will not just integrate, but add tremendously to the local communities in Skerries and Balbriggan. I would like to thank and congratulate all partners on their dedication which has brought the projects to this important stage, and I look forward to seeing them completed.'
Patrick Phelan, Managing Director of Ballymore, Ireland said,
'We are proud to partner with the LDA in delivering Hampton Demesne, a transformative development that will bring high-quality, affordable homes and vibrant community amenities to Balbriggan. This project reflects Ballymore’s commitment to building not just homes, but sustainable communities where people can thrive. We look forward to working closely with our partners and the people of Balbriggan to bring this vision to life.'
Conor Lydon, Director of Lydon said,
'We are delighted to get started on this much-needed housing project for the people of Skerries and the wider north County Dublin region. We understand the urgent need to deliver homes for families, single people, first-time buyers and renters, and we are excited by our partnership with the LDA in meeting that need. We are also grateful for the continued support of Bank of Ireland, whose financing has been instrumental in enabling the delivery of this project.'
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.
Ballymore, founded in Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, in 1982, is a leading property developer with a multi-award-winning portfolio of some of Europe’s most transformative urban development projects. With over four decades of pioneering new ideas in construction, Ballymore remains rooted in its Irish heritage, prioritising quality of life and sustainability in every project.
Lydon is one of Ireland’s leading independent homebuilders, delivering high-quality residential developments since 1977. With a proven track record of innovation, sustainability and community-focused design, Lydon has successfully built thousands of homes in the greater Dublin area.