The Land Development Agency (LDA) has submitted a planning application to An Bord Pleanála for a Strategic Housing Development (SHD) in Hacketstown in Skerries, Co. Dublin.

The 6.9-hectare site was made available to the LDA by The Housing Agency and will provide 345 homes, subject to planning approval. The project reflects close collaboration on design and the planning application between the LDA, the Housing Agency and Fingal County Council.

Located 1.5km to the south of Skerries on a greenfield site, the proposed development will include both cost rental and affordable homes for purchase delivered through the Government’s Housing for All policy. Public open space, which will include parkland and a new public square, will account for a quarter of the entire site area.

The planned homes will comprise 39 three-bedroom houses, 118 three-bedroom apartments and duplexes, 104 two-bedroom apartments and duplexes and 84 one-bedroom apartments. This new community will include a 377 sqm creche, 414 car parking spaces and 746 bicycle spaces. The proposed apartments include the provision of private open space in the form of balconies and winter gardens to all elevations of the buildings.

John Coleman, LDA Chief Executive, said: “Hacketstown is another example of the progress we are making on our development pipeline to bring the prospect of thousands of new affordable homes a step closer. Hacketstown’s proximity to Skerries, the coast and Dublin city centre through public transport links makes it a location with excellent potential for a sustainable community.”

The development will prioritise walking, cycling and public transport with Skerries rail station situated about 1km from the proposed new homes. As part of the works to deliver new housing to the area, the Golf Links Road which runs into Skerries town will be upgraded in certain locations.

Under Housing For All, the LDA is the State’s primary channel for the development of cost rental housing with a mission to unlock state land and make more efficient use of it to deliver large-scale affordable housing projects. The application in Skerries is the latest in a strong pipeline of activity that will see thousands of affordable and social homes delivered across Ireland.

Last week the LDA submitted plans to build over 800 new homes in Balbriggan, and almost 1,000 new homes on the site of the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum. In Shanganagh, South Dublin, construction will commence this year on the State’s largest affordable housing scheme while work is also set to commence on the delivery of 265 homes on the site of the former St. Kevin’s Hospital in Cork city.

Bob Jordan, CEO of the Housing Agency, added: “The Housing Agency is working closely with the Land Development Agency on the delivery of cost rental and affordable purchase homes in a number of locations. This proposed development for 345 homes in Skerries, on land provided by the Housing Agency, will include facilities and amenities that support community living including a creche, public spaces, and walking and cycling paths.”

Further details and supplementary information on the LDA’s plan for Hacketstown can be found at: https://hacketstownshd.com/