Houses on list could be worth almost €1m

People on the housing list in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown could find themselves living in houses worth almost €1 million each if a recommendation by councillors is accepted by the local council's planning department.

Councillors in Dundrum in south Dublin have recommended that the council planning department does not accept a swap offer from a developer that would see the social and affordable element of a residential development in Foxrock moved to Stepaside.

Castlethorn Construction has applied to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to build 49 large detached homes at Brighton Road in the exclusive suburb.

As part of its planning application for Foxrock, the company has suggested it provide 63 new homes at another development in Belarmine, Stepaside, where 608 homes are to be built.

In a pre-planning agreement with the council, it said that because of the high value of the site and the type of development being proposed, it would be difficult to provide social and affordable dwellings in Foxrock.

Under Part V of the Planning and Development Act, the company is obliged to provide 20 per cent of any development for social and affordable housing or it can negotiate an alternative with the council to meet its obligations.

At a local area committee meeting this week, Labour councillor Lettie McCarthy said no one wanted to see only certain areas providing social and affordable housing.

"It is no secret that the Glencullen ward has no amenities. To add extra housing, especially social and affordable housing, into an area that doesn't have a swing or a seesaw is wrong."

Bernie O'Reilly, of the council's housing department, said no agreement had yet been reached with Castlethorn Construction, but it was legally obliged to consider the company's proposal.

The council is awaiting additional information on the planning application from the construction company before making a decision on it, she said.

Councillors voted unanimously to recommend rejection of the swap offer.