Proposals for more than 1,000 new affordable homes to be built across south Dublin were unveiled today.
A 3.5-acre site in Killiney, Co Dublin, is being earmarked for 140 apartments, 70 per cent of which would be affordable.
There are also 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.
The development at St Edmundsbury and Woodville also includes a three-acre school site for a new school, community centre with creche, and a further 184 acres of land for recreational and amenity purposes.
"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 Geraghty, chairman of the 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 Dún 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 per year as a single person or a combined salary less than €75,000 for couples.
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche and Minister for Housing Noel Ahern backed the plans, but 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.
PA