Cost Rental Homes Win Overall National Winner at ICSH Awards

Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council has secured the overall national winner award at the recent Irish Council for Social Housing Community Housing Awards 2023 for cost rental housing at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside.

An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Denis O’Callaghan said:

“I am delighted that this unique partnership approach provided an exemplar pilot project paving the way for the expansion of the cost rental scheme in Ireland, providing affordable homes and security of tenure for tenants. I look forward to the development of many more cost rental homes in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown."  

Woodside is Ireland’s first purpose-built cost rental development with 50 cost rental and 105 social homes, which are managed by Respond and Tuath Housing Associations. The homes at Woodside benefit from high quality design and landscaping with communal space, all of which were commended by the judges. 

Frank Curran, Chief Executive, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council added:

“We are delighted to win the ICSH Community Housing overall winner award 2023. We would like to recognise the collaborative efforts of the Council, Tuath Housing, Respond, the Housing Agency,  Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to deliver this innovative project.”

Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, Tuath and Respond all have a strong commitment to provide new homes and housing supports for people who are unable to meet their accommodation needs through their own means. Delivered alongside traditional social housing, the cost rental homes at Woodside offer a new type of tenure for middle income earners who otherwise cannot afford the private rental market, and who are unable to secure social housing supports.

We are currently on site in partnership with the LDA to deliver a further 306 cost rental homes and 91 affordable purchase homes on its lands at Shanganagh Castle.  A further 139 cost rental homes are under construction in the County to be delivered by Respond and Tuath Housing Agencies. Cost rental homes are also planned for St. Laurence's Park, Stillorgan and Ballyogan. The affordable purchase and cost rental homes will be advertised as they become available. Applications can only be made at that time.