Oliver Bond plan scrapped in ‘one of the most shameful moves in living memory'
The decision by the Department of Housing to refuse funding to refurbish Oliver Bond House has been described as “one of the most shameful they’ve made in living memory.”Sinn Fein Councillor Ciarán Ó Meachair has spoken out after being informed that the regeneration of Oliver Bond House has been scrapped. As one of Dublin ’s oldest and most deteriorated flat complexes in the city, Dublin City Council had planned to begin construction on redevelopment in 2028, with new homes completed by 2030.Built in the 1930s, Oliver Bond House cannot be demolished and rebuilt to modern living standards due to it being a protected structure. The original plan had been to carry out a “deep retrofit” of the 391 flat complex.However, the Department of Housing has withdrawn its approval of the scheme. Cllr Ó Meachair has condemned this decision and is calling for it to be reversed immediately.“This decision by the Department is frankly, one of the most shameful they’ve made in living memory,” he said.“Residents in Oliver Bond live in some of the most horrific housing conditions in the state. Dampness and mould are rampant across the complex, causing terrible respiratory problems and other health issues. To turn around to these people and basically tell them to suck it up is cruel.“These residents were landed with a rent hike only a few weeks ago. They are now expected to pay more to live surrounded by damp and mould with no end in sight.“Time and time again the state has shown they don’t care about the people who live in Oliver Bond. It’s incumbent on all public representatives of the area to stand with the community, and oppose the government on this.Internal Department of Housing documents seen by Dublin Live reveal that the funding for Oliver Bond House Phase 1 was refused because the plan would cut the number of homes from 74 down to 46. The Department said this represents a 38% reduction at a "very high cost per unit" and argued it does not represent value for money.Instead, officials have requested the council to redesign the proposal to avoid losing so many homes. This may involve reclassifying two-bedroom flats as one-bedroom units to meet modern size standards. Under this revision, larger families in undersized Oliver Bond apartments may be moved to the new Bridgefoot Street development, which will feature three and four-bedroom blocks.When contacted for comment, the Department of Housing stated that they fully support the regeneration of older flat complexes such as Oliver Bond House, but the current proposal needs to be revised due to costs. Their full statement is as follows:"The Department cannot support the significant reduction of homes as proposed by DCC – going from 74 down to 46 for the three blocks proposed – this would represent a 38% reduction of homes – all of which are currently tenanted. The cost of such reductions do not represent value for money and would leave 28 households without a home."In line with recently approved plan for regeneration of Pearse House, the Department has requested that DCC update the latest Oliver Bond proposal to provide for a deep retrofit of the existing flats and houses while ensuring that there is not a significant reduction in homes."It is noted that some of the existing flats fall short of the minimum apartment floor areas for the current usage/bedspaces. 45 of the 74 homes across the three blocks proposed for regeneration are two-bedroom flats with an average size of 49.48 sq. m. with no flat smaller than 48 sq. m. 27 of the flats have one bedroom and an average size of 39 sq. m. with no flat smaller than 37.7 sq. m."As part of the deep retrofit of such flats the department recommends that flats be reconfigured for the appropriate bedspaces for the existing floor areas; e.g. convert small two-bedroom flats to standard size one-bedroom homes for couples."DCC are currently working on a proposal to build new homes on the adjoining Bridgefoot Street site and also to demolish three of the Oliver Bond blocks. This will afford the Council the opportunity to provide the needed larger 3-bedroom homes to accommodate over-crowding issues at Oliver Bond House."This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting SchemeWant to see more of the stories you love from Dublin Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Dublin Live as a preferred source, simply click here.Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content.We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .
