Residents oppose plan for social and affordable homes in suburb

Some residents of Sutton, Co Dublin, have expressed outrage at Fingal County Council's plans to build 24 social and affordable homes on a greenfield site in the northside suburb.

In more than 150 letters to the council, residents raised issues of security, safety, fears of "anti-social behaviour" and the arrival of "undesirables" in their midst.

The development on a one-acre site known as "Goff's field" at Roncalli Road, would contain a maximum of 24 homes, 12 of which would be sold as "affordable homes" - aimed at first-time buyers - while the remainder would be social housing.

The proposal prompted the former minister, Dr Michael Woods TD, to write to the county council commending 47 of the submissions opposed to the development. The public planning file, which has been seen by The Irish Times, also records the opposition of local councillors and TDs who have commended the residents' objections to the council.

Among them is a letter from Mr Martin Brady TD (FF) which asks the council "to look favourably" at letters of objections from the residents "as I fully support the residents' views".

Mr Patrick and Ms Jacqueline Brosnan, of Del Val Avenue, Kilbarrack, said they wanted to "object in the strongest possible terms". The Brosnans added that "it is a known fact that where you have social or shared ownership housing this type of development can lead to anti-social behaviour. For example, under-age drinking, burglary, damage to property and general criminal activity".

Mr Brian Dowling, of Verbena Lawn, told the council the proposed development "would have a serious negative impact on the surrounding settled housing, impacting on safety, security and existing amenities".

Ms Elaine McKeon and Mr Brendan McCormick, of Alden Road, Sutton, said housing people "who cannot afford housing in developments of this nature" was to ghettoise them. Mr Dieter Babel-Thompson wrote: "To have such anti-social undesirables in our midst is just not on and will be resisted utterly."

Ms Karen Dillon, of Kilbarrack Avenue, wrote of social problems with a "large housing project such as you propose" and compared the development with Ballymun. Ms Nicola O'Sullivan, of Roncalli Road, said the road was a "quiet, settled residential area consisting of both young children and elderly people . . . who have chosen to live in this environment and have worked hard to be able to do so".

Dr Woods said last night he had been merely forwarding letters to the council which was standard practice. Mr Brady could not be contacted for comment. A decision on the project is due to be made on Monday next.