Councillors in Dublin have rejected a plan to sell off €44 million worth of city-owned land to a private developer.
Glenveagh Homes would have built over 850 homes on the Oscar Traynor Road site, and sold half of them on the private market.
Critics say the local authority should develop the site itself and provide more social homes, thereby cutting the cost of affordable homes in the area.
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 argued that it means the site will lie vacant for years.
He said: "I think it would be highly disappointing and frustrating if this very important project at this advanced stage could be killed off tonight.
"Rejection of this proposal before council tonight means that the entire 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 TDs have welcomed the council's moves, including Sinn Féin's Eoin Ó Broin:
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.
"This opportunity cannot be wasted by selling public land to private developers."
He suggested the results of tonight's vote should serve as a "wakeup call" for both the Council executive and the Department of Housing."
