Anger at delays to Dyke Road housing project

CONCERNS have been raised about the delay in delivering a proposed housing development on Dyke Road — one of the city’s most strategic land assets.

At this month’s meeting of Galway City Council, Cllr Peter Keane (FF) said that the “devil is in the detail” as he described his frustration over the “unnecessary and undue delay”.

The Dyke Road site is owned by Galway City Council and full planning permission was granted last October by An Coimisiún Pleanála for 219 apartments.

The one-, two- and three-bedroom homes will be built in blocks ranging in height from six to nine storeys overlooking the Corrib.

The approved first phase of the Corrib Causeway development provides for approximately 90 percent affordable and cost-rental housing and 10 percent social housing, aimed at people priced out of the private market.

Cllr Keane criticised the Land Development Agency (LDA) for hindering the project at a time of significant housing need.

He questioned the reasons for the hold-up and proposed that the local authority explore the possibility of developing the project itself.

He is calling on the council to consider stepping in to deliver the project itself if progress with the LDA does not improve.

“I am frustrated,” he said at this month’s City Council meeting.

“It does not appear to have advanced. We need to consider building them ourselves.”

Chief Executive Leonard Cleary rejected any suggestions that the project was in danger but accepted that the issue was around timelines of delivery.

He confirmed that negotiations were ongoing and stressed that any proposed land disposal must meet statutory requirements.

“We have been in negotiations with the LDA with a view to reaching agreement and possible sale price,” he explained.

“I have a duty to ensure any disposal of land is reflective of market price. We have to get market value and that is my commitment.”

Two options were discussed for delivering the homes on the Dyke Road site.

The first is that Galway City Council sell the land to the LDA, which would then build the housing.

The second is that the council would retain the land, borrow the money, and carry out the construction directly. The finished development would remain a council-owned asset.

“Business is business,” Mr Cleary said.

“The potential sale of this land has to go through the negotiation process. We will continue with negotiations. It is a Galway City Council asset and we will look at the business case if we were to build it ourselves. We need to see what the best value is.

“We have to explore the best business option for Galway City Council to meet the timelines of delivery of these housing units that are specifically designed for the cost rental and affordable market.”

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.

Pictured: Delayed: the proposed Corrib Causeway apartments on the Dyke Road.