A housing co-op, which had plans to build on land being used for modular houses in Ballymun, Dublin has been granted planning permission for a new development at the site.
Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance will next month start construction of 49 houses, with prices starting at €140,000 for a two-bedroom to €199,000 for a four-bedroom house, in what the co-op says is the only affordable housing scheme available in the State.
The development at Baile na Laochra in Poppintree, Ballymun, will wrap around the 22 modular or "rapid build" homes built by Dublin City Council to house homeless families.
The council has provided the site for the 49 houses, but the co-op, which is an approved housing body, will fund the construction of the development. Just over half the houses have been allocated, but 24 remain available. The development will be built in three phases with the last due for completion by May 2018.
Two other co-ops previously had planning permission for housing at the site. More than a decade ago Parkside Co-operative got planning permission to build 32 houses on the north side of the Poppintree site. Another co-op CTSL received permission for 40 houses on the south of the site, where the modular housing is located.
Neither co-op was able to secure finance for their projects and in 2014 Ó Cualann offered to step in and pursue a housing development using the existing planning permission.
However, this plan ran into difficulties late last year when the council announced the site would be used for its first modular housing project to accommodate homeless families who were living in hotels. Although planning permission had been secured by CTSL, it was no longer valid because the modular homes have been put on the site. Ó Cualann earlier this year submitted a new planning application which has now been granted.
First refusal
Former members of the two co-ops had first refusal on the homes. Other buyers must satisfy the eligibility criteria of Ó Cualann and must become members of the co-op. Single buyers must have an income lower than €59,000, while couples must have a combined income less than €79,000. A 10 per cent deposit is required, as well as mortgage approval for the remaining sum.
The houses, designed by Dún Laoghaire architects Smith and Kennedy, range from €140,000-€150,000 for a two-bed, €160,000-€175,000 for a three-bed and €199,000-€214,000 for a four-bed.
As with previously affordable housing schemes, homeowners would be subject to a “clawback” if they sold their houses within 10 years. In this case the clawback would relate to the cost of the site given by the council, but would not exceed €30,000 per house.
The last national affordable housing scheme was discontinued in 2011 And while a new model was included in budget 2016, Ó Cualann general manager Huge Brennan believes the Poppintree scheme will be the first.
“As far as we can establish this will be the only affordable scheme under construction in the country, but we believe we have a sustainable model that can be replicated and scaled throughout Dublin and the country.”
