Affordable homes for low- and middle-income workers could be built on the vacant site of the Ballymun shopping centre in north Dublin following assessment by the Land Development Agency (LDA).
The eight-acre site in the heart of Ballymun, once designated for a vast Dundrum-style shopping complex, has remained vacant since the demolition of the 50-year-old centre was completed four years ago.
Dublin City Council in February 2023 sought expressions of interest to develop housing at the western half of the site, with the east section, facing on to Ballymun Road, to be retained for later commercial and retail development in tandem with the construction of the MetroLink rail line.
However, despite twice seeking bids for the western lands, the council was unable to secure a developer. Council valuers and the LDA are now assessing indicative cost-rental housing proposals, and the site’s potential for affordable purchase housing, with plans expected to be formalised this year.
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A spokesman for the LDA said that while the project was at an early stage, it was working with the council on the “possible development of affordable housing at the Ballymun shopping centre site. This is being progressed in line with its other successful partnerships with DCC at Bluebell Waterways, Cromcastle, Cherry Orchard Point and the Donore Project at St Teresa’s Gardens.”
[ Bids to replace Ballymun shopping centre soughtOpens in new window ]
The redevelopment of the old shopping centre, known as the Town Centre, was central to the 1997 Ballymun regeneration plan. In 2000, Treasury Holdings paid more than £6 million (€7.6 million) for a 53 per cent stake in the site, with the council retaining the remainder. The new complex, which was to be the main shopping facility for the suburb’s 18,000 residents, was due to be built in 2005.
However, it was not until 2009 that Treasury secured planning permission for Spring Cross, a vast €800 million development, which was to include an 11-screen cinema, bowling alley, public library, creche and restaurants, as well as more than 60,293sq m of retail space.
It had intended to begin construction the following year, but the economic crash intervened and the town centre lands became part of the National Asset Management Agency’s (Nama) portfolio of loans before any development began. Most retailers in the centre subsequently shut and, in early 2014, it lost the Tesco supermarket, its anchor tenant.
In May 2014, the council reached agreement with Nama and its receivers to acquire the Treasury stake. Two years later the council sought compulsory purchase orders to gain clear possession of the site.
The final tenants left the shopping centre in summer 2018. However, it was not until the following year that the €1.9 million demolition contract was awarded, with the work to level the centre beginning in mid-2020 and finishing in 2021.
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