Construction begins on long-delayed development of 106 social homes in west Wicklow

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Construction has begun on the long-delayed 106-home social housing development in Blessington, after the government confirmed the project has formally moved to the build stage under the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP).

The scheme, originally part of the state’s third social housing public private partnership (PPP) bundle, was left in limbo after the PPP competition was cancelled last year due to spiralling costs.

Wicklow County Council has since been advancing the project through direct delivery, with the Department of Housing granting funding approval in April.

In a written reply to a parliamentary question from Wicklow TD John Brady, Housing Minister James Browne said the contractor is now on site, with hoardings erected and enabling works underway.

It marks the first visible progress on the Blessington lands since the PPP model was abandoned, a decision that forced several councils nationwide to redesign procurement plans and seek fresh capital approval.

The Department’s confirmation that construction has started brings clarity to a project that had been stalled for more than a year and had become a source of frustration locally.

The minister said the development will deliver 106 social homes and is currently programmed for completion and occupation in early 2028. While no detailed phasing plan has been published, the timeline suggests a standard two‑year build period following site mobilisation.

The Department will “continue to engage with the relevant stakeholders and monitor progress”, Minister Browne added, signalling that the scheme remains under close oversight given its history and scale.

Blessington has been identified as one of the county’s most pressured housing markets, with sustained demand for social and affordable homes and limited recent delivery.

The PPP cancellation raised concerns that the town’s long promised scheme could slip further behind other projects in the county, but the shift to SHIP funding has allowed the council to proceed without waiting for a replacement national bundle.

The move also reflects a broader trend of local authorities reverting to traditional construction routes as PPP costs and market conditions have made large scale bundles increasingly difficult to deliver.

With enabling works underway and the contractor established on site, the Blessington scheme is now positioned to progress through its build programme.

The Department’s commitment to monitoring delivery suggests the project will remain a priority as Wicklow continues to grapple with housing need across its towns and villages.