Delivering affordable, sustainable homes close to public transport is central to Ireland’s Housing for All strategy. The new Woodbrook development in Shankill is Castlethorn’s active participation in and support for the Land Development Agency (LDA) cost-rental scheme, bringing 328 A‑rated apartments to market by 2026.
Why Cost‑Rental Matters
LDA cost rental offers long‑term security at rent levels set at least one‑quarter below the prevailing market. It serves households that earn above social‑housing thresholds yet struggle with private‑market prices. Under Project Tosaigh, the LDA forward‑funds developments like Woodbrook, providing the certainty needed to start construction promptly while retaining control of rents once complete.
Woodbrook contributes to the Government’s goal of delivering 300,000 new homes by 2030. By focusing on well‑located, transit‑oriented sites, the scheme supports compact‑growth principles set out in the National Planning Framework and Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy.
Development Highlights
- Forward funding: The LDA’s investment expedites delivery and removes financing risk.
- Sustainability: Fabric‑first design, high‑efficiency heat‑pump systems and roof‑mounted photovoltaics reduce operational emissions and energy costs.
- Community infrastructure: The wider Woodbrook masterplan includes greenways, a coastal park and a neighbourhood hub to foster a vibrant, connected community.
What This Means for Renters
Predictable rents
Cost-rental leases lock in below-market rates for the long term, giving households the financial visibility they need to plan ahead.
Lower utility bills
An A-rated apartment can reduce annual energy costs by an estimated €800–€1 200 compared with a typical C-rated dwelling.
Sustainable lifestyle
Living next to rail and cycling routes supports car-optional habits, cutting emissions as well as everyday transport costs.
About the Woodbrook Shankhill Development
Woodbrook by Castlethorn is a landmark cost-rental apartment scheme in Shankill, Co Dublin, delivering 328 BER A2-rated homes—102 one-bed and 226 two-bed—in two elegant six-storey blocks. Backed by the Land Development Agency, rents will be at least 25 percent below the local market, giving households long-term security right on Dublin’s scenic south coast.
Set within the former Woodbrook Golf Club, the apartments exceed nearly-zero Energy and zero-emission buildings by about ten percent, cutting bills and carbon alike. Residents will enjoy landscaped greenways, an on-site crèche, planned primary school and a neighbourhood centre, all a short stroll from Shankill village’s shops and cafés and the coastal walking and cycling routes.
What’s more? Commuting is effortless: the dedicated Woodbrook DART station opens in August 2025, supplementing existing bus services, the Cherrywood Luas connector and swift links to the M11 and M50. Construction is already under way, with a phased handover completing in Q4 2026—and first occupancies expected earlier that year—promising a vibrant, sustainable lifestyle where the mountains meet the sea.
The Castlethorn Approach
Early engagement with Dún Laoghaire‑Rathdown County Council, thorough environmental studies, and a collaborative design process with the LDA ensured a smooth Large‑Scale Residential Development (LRD) planning approval. Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) streamline on‑site activity, reduce waste and improve quality control—principles visible on the Woodbrook site.
Construction teams broke ground in February 2024. With the structural frame of Block A now at second‑floor level and enabling works for the DART station progressing on schedule, the project remains on track for first occupancies in early 2026.
Learn more: Explore our Help‑to‑Buy Scheme 2025 to see how government supports can complement cost‑rental living.
