Affordable homes plan unveiled

Proposals for more than 1,000 new affordable homes to be built across south Dublin were unveiled today.

However, the plans to transform a 115 acre space near Lucan village with 1,600 new homes - 1,000 affordable, 100 sheltered for the elderly and 500 private sale - were slammed by the Green Party.

The development at St Edmundsbury and Woodville also includes a three acre school site for a new school, community centre with crèche, and a further 184 acres of land for recreational and amenity purposes.

A further 3.5 acre site in Killiney, Co Dublin, is being earmarked for 140 apartments, 70% of which would be affordable.

"The essence of this proposal is that the benefit of the increase in land value is shared between the local community and the landowner," said Des Gerathy, chair of Affordable Homes Partnership.

"We are recommending these two sites as they are an excellent opportunity to deliver over 1,100 affordable homes in Dublin to benefit first time buyers. We hope that they will be considered favourably by the local authorities."

Ballymore Properties is applying to South Dublin County Council to develop 115 acres of land in exchange for 184 acres of its own land, 143 acres of which lies within the Liffey Valley Special Area Amenity Order.

Ellen Construction is planning to win the backing of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to develop a site at Kilmarnock, Military Road, Killiney, which will include the retention of Kilmarnock House.

The controversial affordable home scheme provides homes at a discount to the market price to first time buyers earning less than approximately 55,000 euro per year as a single person or a combined salary less than 75,000 euro for couples.

Minister for the Environment Dick Roche and Minister for Housing Noel Ahern backed the plans, while the Green Party's Paul Gogarty said the proposal was tantamount to environmental vandalism.

Calling on the Government to intervene to save an integral part of the Liffey Valley from the housing development, he said there is huge opposition in Lucan to any housing in the valley.

"I am calling on councillors in South Dublin to stop this proposal in its tracks," he said. "There are other lands available for affordable housing, which I would wholeheartedly support."

Mr Gogarty claimed that Ballymore Properties has to date been unable to build housing on the site due to its agricultural zoning, which local councillors, who are strongly opposed to development in the valley, have maintained since 1999.

He said land being offered as parkland is protected and cannot be built on, and if the plans are passed, any chance of developing a coherent Liffey Valley is lost forever.

"The Government, on behalf of the state, should pay off Ballymore and develop Edmundsbury as part of a wider Liffey Valley national or regional park stretching from Islandbridge to Straffan," he added.

"The arguments about traffic and infrastructure on an already congested route are valid in themselves, but it is the long-term argument that really holds sway," he added.

"The Liffey Valley is a jewel that should be preserved for our children and grandchildren."