Parkleigh, Seven Mills, Dublin 22

As a potential homeowner and with almost half a million EUR at stake, I did some due diligence today. I walked through the canal on the other side of the development. Just like a normal Dublin City center walk, I encountered 3 young lads on bicycle smoking weed that engulfed the whole canal with distinct aroma, some graffiti here and there. I have check the trash some bits of normal looking needles for recreational use. Then I have to step aside for 2 lads racing their electric motorbike on the small canal cycle lane. On the other hand in Bawnogue, right on the side of the development there's some quad bike and motorcycle racing and practise going on. Hopefully the development have good soundproof windows for this kind of noise. Overall it has a good potential to be like Portobello, if properly managed and develop 5-10 years down the road.

It isn't just new builds. The various councils are buying up or signing extended lease agreements for houses in 'established' areas also.

I was there, didn't manage to book, but I was close. Most of the people were high-income earners from South Asia. Fair play to them and their persistence as some of them stayed there the whole night.

In my opinion, the houses are worth the price; they are like any other new builds. The area is still under construction; this is the first phase. Estate agents told us that nearby duplexes are going for cost rental, and the apartments will be BTS, though ground floors will probably end up with social housing.

Since I was close, estate agents reassured us they will use the cancellation list for the upcoming phases. The next one should launch in 6 weeks, and the move-in date should be February. I'm not sure whether I should trust them; is anyone familiar with HMD and their track record?

I can't help but feel a bit disappointed with the local government and city planners. There is an obvious demand; there were around 300-400 high-income earners queuing up with mortgages/deposits ready, and you can only come up with 50 houses... There's abundance of space there, and I'm sure all of those people would consider larger-spacious apartments as well. Other countries would do everything to keep those people!

" Estate agents told us that nearby duplexes are going for cost rental, and the apartments will be BTS, though ground floors will probably end up with social housing." 🤣

Estate agents will tell you anything to get the booking deposit. Do not believe a word of this rubbish. They have no way of knowing what will happen with any future development.

https://twitter.com/protechstone/status/1698092832328667174

The queue seems insane , I guess they have HTB eligible houses

That is not a fake video I can confirm that, that was the queue on open viewing date and also people stayed overnight as well

For those who moved in. How’s it going? Are you able to find school places for your young ones?

Hey! I booked a house in parkleigh recently but I saw Respond Housing announce that they acquired 350 units in Parkleigh. However, Parkleigh only has 6/700 units I believe, so I presume this is across the entire seven mills. Have you any idea? Do you know the split of cost rental vs social?

Do you have one car parking space or two? Ours only has one and I think its a bit of a disaster so wondering how ye handle it? I am contemplating trying to rent a spot off someone in the estate or perhaps an estate down towards clondalkin village and use a scooter to get down. Any thoughts?

I also read about scramblers down by the canals alot. Any trouble in the estate so far that you know of?

How is the sound insulation between bedrooms? Particularly bedroom 2 and 3?

Thanks!

EDIT: I see you replied to my earlier thread around 2 bed vs 3 bed. Apologies I only saw it now.

Thanks for the reply!

Good to know that its 50/50 split, could be worse. So based on 5500 homes in Seven Mills, 10% are social automatically and it looks like another 3% based on the 148. 13% isn't too high based on some other places like Kilcarbery Grange.

I thought that the stretch by Clonburris would be the worst part as you have Bawnogue on the other side of the canal. Have you tried walking down the canal at all? Find it safe to do so during the day?

Wondering if you know if Cairn are going to sell more to Respond, would you know? Have you spoken to them?

Thanks again for the reply.

Would you have a link to the planning docs? I saw the clonburris SDZ plans, but not Seven Mills plans.

I do have an email from the estate agents a while back offering 2 bed apts for sale, but I don't these were located within the large blocks of apts, they seem to be by the duplexes.

It looks like the apt blocks themselves will be totally social/cost rental alright, which isn't great but will have to see how it goes.

How is the train station in terms of safety? Any issues so far?

I read a previous comment about someone who went for a walk along the canal said he saw people racing motorbikes, smoking weed (the least of my worries) etc. You haven't seen this or you have but it doesn't worry you?

Have the residents had any contact with Cairn to try prevent large amounts of the apts etc being sold to housing bodies?

I was surprised to see that for Respond's cost rental income brackets are not that strict:

- Your net household income is below €66,000 per annum in Dublin and €59,000 elsewhere per annum.

Yes, the main issue is that these are some of the first cost rental schemes, and all of them get a few thousand applicants.

Applications tend to be open for a week or two only, and I think you get selected by a lottery system.

Thanks for the reply again!

I believe the one we booked is in phase 2. I feel more concerned now that I have realised how many apts are going in phase 3 and also partially in phase 4.

I would presume that the apts in phase 3 and 4 will also be social as well :-(

How can I find the relevant info on that planning portal. Seems to be just a tonne of documents attached to each planning permission. Which one is the relevant file to view?

I don't think apartments in phases 3 or 4 will be as numerous. The reason why I think so is because, when those get finished, there will be amenities around, hopefully even DART SW+ planning permission. It's going to be much easier to sell apartments that are adjacent to the DART station. I might be completely wrong about it, and they could end up being like Ballymun towers.

I don't think you will find in planning permissions how much will be allocated to social housing.