Two out of five major public-partnership social housing projects in Dublin, which it was feared would be dropped, may go ahead after all, Dublin City Council said tonight.
A deal with developer Bernard McNamara to build some 1,800 homes in five areas of the city, collapsed in recent weeks.
The projects at Infirmary Road, St Michael’s estate in Inchicore, Dominick Street, Seán MacDermott Street and O’Devaney Gardens were worth a total of €900 million.
Assistant city manager Ciarán McNamara told a council meeting this evening that projects at Convent Lands and O’Devaney Gardens, involving McNamara and Co “may go ahead as planned” after some progress had been made in talks with the developer.
The council official said no new proposals have been received from the developer for the regeneration of St Michael’s Estate and Dominick Street, for which no contracts have been signed.
“In relation to Infirmary Road, the proposals received from the developer were deemed non-compliant are therefore not acceptable to the City Council and the local authority is examining what remedies are available to it,” the council said in a statement.
The council will establish a special housing development unit to focus on the regeneration of St Michael’s Estate, Dominick Street and O’Devaney Gardens, “including developing alternative plans as necessary”.
Mr McNamara’s company has applied for planning permission for 179 residential units, 18 live/work units and a civic centre at Convent Lands, Sean MacDermott Street.
The council said it was also holding “meaningful discussions” with the developer on additional costs due to the increased size of apartments required, under new regulations, at O’Devaney Gardens.
It said it had set a deadline of Friday June 20th – two weeks away – for these discussions to be concluded.
“If agreement is reached, the City Council will allow the developer two months to apply for planning permission,” the statement said.
Revised proposals received from Mr McNamara for the affordable housing initiative on Infirmary Road “materially differ” from the original contract signed with the council and would contravene public procurement rules, the council insisted.
“There has been no other compliant proposal put forward by the developer for the provision of the 130 affordable homes and 32 private residential units.
“The proposals, received from the developer, are therefore not acceptable to the City Council and the local authority is examining what remedies are available to it. With regard to St Michael’s Estate and Dominick Street, the developer has made no additional proposals. The City Council is setting up a special housing unit to focus on and to progress these projects.”
Ciarán McNamara said: “Our priority continues to be our tenants and local communities, and they have been foremost in all our discussions.”
“Some progress has been made with the developer since the last council meeting, particularly in relation to Convent Lands and O’Devaney Gardens. We are mindful that our tenants cannot be left in limbo. We have to make what decisions we can in the coming weeks. This situation cannot be allowed to drag on indefinitely.”