FAQ

The LDA, in partnership with Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council (DLRCC), are seeking to provide 934 new homes consisting of 753 new affordable and cost rental homes and 181 social homes with extensive services and facilities.

The LDA is a commercial, State-sponsored body that has been created to coordinate land within State control for more optimal uses where appropriate, with a focus on the provision of housing. The LDA, in partnership with DLRCC are bringing forward the Dundrum Central project to deliver social and affordable homes.

A Part 10 Planning Application is where the Planning Authority, in this case DLRCC, has prepared, in partnership with the LDA, a proposal to carry out development within its area in which an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) has been prepared. It is made under Section 175 and Section 177AE of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and submitted to An Bord Pleanála.

An Bord Pleanála granted permission for 852 new affordable homes on the site in a decision published in May 2023, however the development cannot currently proceed due to a legal challenge which is being defended by the LDA.

The new plans are broadly in line with the existing permission, comprising a mix of apartments, duplexes and community homes, offering a multitude of different housing and right size options for families, first time buyers, older residents and renters. The height strategy has been revisited with heights ranging from 2 to 8 storeys across the site. 

In line with the previous submitted Masterplan, the revised Masterplan seeks to ensure that any new development in the vicinity of key heritage buildings is carefully designed in such a way that the character of the landscape or context is always maintained or enhanced. The setting of the heritage buildings will be enhanced with new high-quality public realm and sensitive interventions at appropriate locations. The LDA are working with heritage and cultural experts to ensure that the legacy and archive of this unique campus can be preserved in an appropriate way. A separate Planning Application for the adaptive reuse of the existing buildings will be submitted at a future date. 

Cost Rental is a new housing tenure that was created under the Affordable Housing Act 2021. It offers a long-term, secure rental option that will contribute to the development of a sustainable housing market in Ireland which provides choice across all tenures. The rent on these units is based on the cost of building, managing, and maintaining the homes.

Please refer to the LDA’s Cost Rental website for full eligibility criteria: https://lda.ie/affordable-homes/lda-cost-rental

Applications are not open at this time, please keep an eye on the Project Website for updates: www.dundrumcentral.ie

Applications for social housing can be made through DLRCC’s website: https://www.dlrcoco.ie/housing-provision-applicants/how-do-i-apply-social-housing

The proposed scheme will have 37% 1-bed, 48% 2-bed, 15% 3-bed, with 2no. 5-bed Assisted Living Units.

Planning will be lodged in September 2024.

Following consultation and further analysis, proposed building heights have been significantly reduced at a number of locations. The residential design will create an appropriately dense, mixed-use neighbourhood by promoting a diverse tenure mix and range of residential unit types from apartment buildings to terraced housing with a variety of residential unit types. Since the ‘Concept’ Stage, new buildings have been proposed in the vicinity of the hospital, which will provide courtyards and a greater variety of housing typologies across the site. In addition, the overall number of dwellings proposed has been reduced since ‘Concept’ Stage from 1,300 to 1,259, with a greater proportion of family dwellings now proposed at the site.

The overall site is 11.3 hectares. The project represents an opportunity to transform this inward-looking, closed off site into a new, welcoming, sustainable urban community with a distinctive identity that will be integrated into the wider community of Dundrum. Approximately one-third of the site is proposed to be provided for publicly accessible open space, and the aim is to sensitively develop and optimise the site and landscape setting to achieve high quality compact sustainable development.

The planned development is to consist of newly built homes on the grounds of Central Mental Hospital (CMH) and the repurposing of key heritage buildings. This is particularly the buildings which are distinctive in their character and heritage and exploring how they can be beneficially reused. Connectivity and community integration will be important outcomes for the new neighbourhood.

The new sustainable urban neighbourhood has been designed to be inclusive and provide for a variety of housing typologies and tenure offering sustainable and affordable housing choice.

While the tenure mix is yet to be confirmed by emerging Government policy in this area the primary focus of the development will be affordable and social housing and the majority of housing will fit that criteria. This will allow people to set down secure roots and further strengthen the community.

It will also provide options for young people from the area to access homes in the area that would otherwise be priced out.