Balllymastone lands in Donabate

[SPDD]

Press release.

A community group in Donabate is calling on Fingal County Council to conduct proper public consultations on plans for a new 1,000-unit development scheme on the peninsula.
The council is seeking expressions of interest from developers to build 1,000 houses in Ballymastone, Donabate.

Supporting Proper Development in Donabate (SPDD) is calling on FCC to hold full public community consultations into the plans, as is happening in Balbriggan with a similar plan at Castlelands.

SPDD also questioned why Fingal councillors have known about the massive housing plan at Ballymastone since last May but have failed to keep their constituents informed of the scheme.

Information about Fingal County Council’s plan to seek tenders from developers was first released by Donabate community groups.

FCC is not planning public consultation on the Balllymastone lands in Donabate, which is manifestly unfair, the group said.

“Having an open and transparent consultation process, involving the entire community, is the only democratic and reasonable way to proceed with such a plan. After all, the 1,000-housing unit plan for Ballymastone will have a transformative impact on the Donabate peninsula,” the spokesperson said.

People on the Donabate peninsula, which is chronically short of infrastructure, deserve to be consulted on such a large house-building plan, an SPDD spokesperson said.

The plan is to have 50pc of the houses for private sale in Ballymastone, 30pc social and 20pc affordable.

SPDD said it was fully in favour of more housing being built in the area but questioned if there is sufficient infrastructure to handle such large-scale development.

Residents in Donabate and Portrane were called on to lobby their local elected representatives to demand full consultation for the entire community on the Donabate peninsula.

[alkaline]

Anecdotal evidence is highlighting some issues with current developments from a sales perspective.
Kingsland struggling to shift last number of houses, same for Glaslinn, not sure about the others, Small one at top of beaverstown road are struggling on final sales and will not currently progress, with additional volume. All that been said, the sports clubs around Ballymastone will have a major say in progression. Banks aren't lending to developers either, with money coming from outside Ireland, so that will impact too.

[Sleepy]

The 30% social allocation is what worries me... Most in the market won't want to live in an estate with over 300 social housing units. Which imo will lead to the 50% "private" properties being picked up by landlords who are happy to let them back to the council via the HAP, Long-Term Lease or RAS schemes or housing associations / homeless charities. Once that happens, watch the name Ballymastone become akin to Darndale or Jobstown and the village (now town?) of Donabate go to the dogs completely.

I'm not suggesting that there shouldn't be a social housing allocation in estates, just that 30% is excessive, and in contravention of the Local Area Development Plan.

[pat mustard]

Agree re the 30% figure, most people looking a buying a property would see this as a major showstopper in a new estate. Not a NIMBY, just realistic.

[Austy]

30% Social Housing - that will have most, if not all people living in them unemployed. Not putting down anyone unemployed, but what chance does any of them have of obtaining a job in Donabate? Any employment will be in either Swords (transport over and back is an issue) or a job in the city centre where a commuter ticket on the train is €1,500 approx. per year.

[aoifey]

30% Social Housing - that will have most, if not all people living in them unemployed. Not putting down anyone unemployed, but what chance does any of them have of obtaining a job in Donabate? Any employment will be in either Swords (transport over and back is an issue) or a job in the city centre where a commuter ticket on the train is €1,500 approx. per year.

You've hit the nail on the head there.
Unfortunately, our local authority really don't care. They have been given a quota for social housing by the government and they will implement it at all costs.

We generally don't do long term planning in Ireland. Lets face facts. This will inevitably become an 80%+ social housing estate. Private buyers will not want to buy into an estate with 30% social housing and so it will be bought up by investment companies/pension funds etc and leased back to the local council/charities etc.

History shows us that large estates that are predominantly social housing become problem areas. And I have no doubt that this will be the case here. And don't think for one minute that the government/council don't know this. Of course they do. But they are clearly prepared to go full steam ahead with it, then firefight the problems when they happen in 10 to 15 years time. Short term thinking providing long term problems.

The fact that FCC/the government are happy to go against best practice and the LAP of providing 10% social housing shows what their intention is.

This can't be stated clearly enough........
We are going to be a town with the same population of Athlone or Naas. Except we have 2 roads in and out of the peninsula, about 6 or 7 shops, no policing (when was the last time you saw a Garda on the beat in Donabate?). Athlone/Naas have their own problems but they have significantly more infrastructure than we do. Swimming pools/hotels/garda stations/third level institution etc etc.

A quick search shows me that it looks like Athlone has 15 primary schools and 5 secondary schools.

ps: I really shouldnt have to state that of course not all people who live in social housing cause problems. But we do have precendent in every area of the country that shows why this should not be allowed to happen.

[SPDD]

https://www.independent.ie/business/per ... 20927.html

[RochelleD-Jones]

HI All,

I have a question re: LAP and New development.

We are hoping to buy a house in The Priory or Priory Woods. I am trying to work out from the map and LAP document what is planning for the fields close to this area.

Does anyone know/can anyone explain ? Eg- Is there any plans for houses on the field behind The Priory/next to the graveyard ? Or anywhere close by ?

Any advise and in site into what is planned for this area would be great,

Thanks in advance,