Dublin City Council has this week lodged a planning application to build 578 social and cost rental homes together along with a supermarket and library in Inchicore.
It is hoped that the new Emmet Road Mixed Tenure Development will transform the vacant site at the former St Michael’s Estate into a vibrant, residential led neighbourhood. Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien welcomed the council's progression on the development, which he described as providing "an optimal mix of social and affordable housing".
He added: "Significantly, it points to the benefits of creating a sustainable residential development that caters for essential tenure options alongside community and commercial facilities.” Meanwhile, Dublin City Council’s Assistant Chief Executive and the Head of Housing Coilín O’Reilly said that the application is a "major milestone" and step forward in Housing Delivery for the council.
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Designed by Bucholz McEvoy Architects, the Emmet Road scheme will consist of buildings ranging in height from three to seven-storeys. The residential buildings are to be laid out in two plots arranged around high quality landscaped courtyards with green spaces for residents and play areas for children.
Residents will also have accessible parking which includes 920 bicycle spaces, with car parking spaces which are electric vehicle compatible along with the availability of car sharing facilities on site. The mixed use development fronting Emmet Road includes a community hub and library building, shops, café and a supermarket
The development will offer a mix of accommodation suitable for single people, couples, and families with a mix of studios, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom apartments. Reaction to the application has been mostly positive, with Labour councillor Darragh Moriarty hailing the new development as "transformative" for people in Dublin 8.
Cllr Moriarty said projects like St Michael’s will be vital in giving people an opportunity to live in their own community. He said: “These are exactly the type of public housing development the city and country needs if we are going to get ourselves out of the current housing crisis we find ourselves in.
"It has taken us a long time to get here and there are incredibly active, hard-working and dedicated community activists who deserve huge credit for staying with this project literally for decades. They have pushed and pushed to get us to this point and deserve huge credit for the delivery of these homes.
“There are concerns locally that the development will see 49% of homes delivered as either studios or 1-beds, but at the moment if you look at our Dublin City Council housing waiting lists, there are over 14,000 people waiting on a home, with nearly 9,000 of those waiting on 1-bed accommodation."
Cllr Moriarty added that the delivery of 578 public homes is a huge "win" for people living in the area. He said: “The affordability of the rents will be key in the delivery of the homes. We are all aware of the impact of soaring inflation on the construction sector. There must be a commitment that rents will be genuinely affordable for people, particularly in terms of cost-rental."
However, he said that he was "hugely disappointed" that a local astro sports pitch located next to the existing community sports centre will be taken away and not replaced. He said: "I would urge the Council to reconsider this decision. Homes need to be built in thriving communities that are set up for young and old to live and enjoy their space.
Cllr Moriarty added: "Not everybody got everything they wanted out of this, and we still have a distance to go to actually getting it built, but today, formally lodging planning, is a hugely important and positive milestone to reach."
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