A proposal to sell off €44 million worth of city-owned land in Dublin to a private developer has been rejected by councillors.
Glenveagh Homes has been planning to build over 850 homes on the Oscar Traynor Road site, with half to be sold on the private market.
However, opponents of the plan have argued that local authority should develop the land itself and provide more social and affordable housing.
Tonight councillors rejected the sale of the land by 48 votes to 14, with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael representatives calling for a deferral.
The council's head of housing Brendan Kenny said the decision was 'disappointing and frustrating' - arguing that the site will now lie vacant for years.
He said rejection of the plan means the project will have to be "abandoned immediately, with the loss of 853 proposed homes which are badly needed at this current time".
However, a number of opposition TDs have welcomed the council's moves.
Sinn Féin's Eoin Ó Broin described it as "great news":
Great news. An big majority of @DubCityCouncil Cllrs reject the disposal of Oscar Traynor lands to a private developer. @DarraghOBrienTD must immediately engage with the Councillors & provide the same funding package as in place in St Micheal’s for a fully public development. pic.twitter.com/AsVzlqBmFa
— Eoin Ó Broin (@EOBroin) November 16, 2020
Social Democrats housing spokesperson Cian O'Callaghan said he hopes the vote "signals a new direction for housing policy in Dublin".
He said: "The message is clear – people want to see housing that is affordable on public land.
“State-owned sites like the one on Oscar Traynor Road offer a great opportunity to build homes that are genuinely affordable to buy or rent."
