Council Unveils Plans For Major New Cherry Orchard Housing Development:
By: Aidan Crowley:
Dublin City Council (DCC), in conjunction with the Land Development Agency (LDA), has unveiled plans for a major new housing development at Cherry Orchard Point in Dublin 10. The extensive plans, which were approved by An Coimisiun Pleanala last July, allow for the second large-scale development proposed by DCC in partnership with the LDA.
They also represent the largest such joint project undertaken, to date, between the local authority and the LDA. It follows the recent granting of planning permission for five hundred and forty-three cost rental and social homes at St. Teresa’s Gardens in Dublin 8.
The plans for the new development allow for the construction of a total of seven hundred and eight housing units, consisting of five hundred and forty-seven cost rental and one hundred and sixty-one social housing homes. A further four hundred homes and a commercial zone are planned for the further four phases of the project. The new housing scheme will be built on an 11.41-hectare site, owned by DCC and aims to create a vibrant and diverse addition to the existing Cherry Orchard community.
The new apartments will consist of twenty-eight studio units, two hundred and sixty-three one-bed, three hundred and sixty-eight two-bed and forty-nine three-bed apartments. The plans allow for construction in sixteen blocks, contained within nine buildings and ranging in height from four to fifteen storeys.
The plans include proposals for the consruction of both housing and commercial units and represent “Phase 1” and “Phase 2” of a wider scheme for lands known as “Site 4” and “Site 5” in the Park West-Cherry Orchard Local Area Plan. There is a wider provision in the plans for building about one thousand one hundred and thirty-one units in this extended catchment area.
Proposals have also been submitted for an extra one hundred and thirty-seven “affordable for sale (AFS) own-door residential homes” under “Phase 2” of the project. A report from the LDA states that these AFS units contain a mix, consisting of houses and duplex dwellings.
The new housing scheme is strategically located near Park West & Cherry Orchard Railway Station, adjacent to the M50 and within easy reach of a range of local businesses and major employers, including those located at Park West Business Park. The site for the new development is bound by Cloverhill Road to the north, Cedar Brook Avenue and Park West Avenue to the east, the railway station to the south-east and the M50 to the west.
The plans for “Phase 1” and “Phase 2” of the project also provide for the inclusion of amenities and facilities, such as a supermarket unit, commercial and retail units (up to 23,400 square metres), internal and external community and cultural spaces, and a childcare facility. Permission is also being sought for a landscaped public open space, including a plaza, a multi-purpose amenity lawn, an outdoor fitness trail, a multi-purpose games area and a playground.
The new apartments will all be A-rated and constructed to a very high standard, with heat pump systems, PV panels and high-quality insulation. Many will boast views over communal parkland or landscaped courtyard gardens, while all individual apartments will have a balcony or terrace space.
A network of parks and civic spaces will be connected by tree-lined streets, while the new residents will benefit from a high-quality, integrated and accessible public transport system.
The plans to develop these new homes at Cherry Orchard Point are being proposed to combine with other local public projects, planned by DCC. These projects are being organised under the umbrella of the Park West-Cherry Orchard Local Area Plan, which was voted on and approved by city councillors back in October 2019.
These broader, community-based, projects include the redevelopment of Cherry Orchard Park, which will include a sports hub. Initial public consultation has already taken place on this project and DCC is due to conduct further discussions with the local community, soon.
DCC has also formulated future plans for the locality, that include the development of a site opposite St. Ultan’s School, with a view to providing much-needed extra housing. The new housing will include senior citizens’ accommodation, along with a small number of retail units, to create a village hub for the area.
Plans are also in place to deliver one hundred and seventy-two new, affordable, homes in the immediate catchment area, with the aim of having the houses completed by 2027. The LDA planning application follows an extensive and exhaustive period of public consultation and included detailed feedback from locals, representative groups and other stakeholders.
As plans for Cherry Orchard Point and the wider catchment area continue to develop, both DCC and the LDA are committed to further consultation with the local community. They will be conducting further meetings, in addition to issuing newsletter updates. Local residents will be encouraged to raise any relevant issues, or to bring forward their ideas to both public bodies for consideration.
Mick Mulhern, Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Housing at DCC, said: “This is another positive development for Cherry Orchard Point and yet more progress towards the provision of high-quality housing and amenities in an area that we have identified a suitable for future growth. We are pleased to be partnering with the LDA to deliver this important development, which will rejuvenate the Cherry Orchard area”.
Phelim O’ Neill, Director of Development at the LDA, said: “Cherry Orchard Point is an exciting project, which will transform a major underutilised site in a key part of west Dublin. Working with DCC, we are pleased to have secured planning permission for ‘Phase 1’ and look forward to construction work getting under way by the end of this year. Our ‘Phase 2’ application proposes a further one hundred and thirty-seven homes and, if approved, these will add significantly to what will ultimately be a well-connected and well-served new community at the heart of Cherry Orchard”.
