A new 562-home development at Parkgate Street is demonstrating how state-backed procurement partnerships can mobilise private construction capacity to deliver large-scale housing on an underutilised Dublin site.

As reported by The Journal, the project is being delivered by the Land Development Agency (LDA) in partnership with Castlethorn through the agency’s Project Tosaigh initiative.

The development will comprise four interconnected apartment blocks on the former Hickey’s Wholesale Fabrics site beside Heuston Station. Parkgate Pointe, the 30-storey centrepiece, will contain 198 apartments and is set to become Ireland’s tallest building. Three further blocks will range from 10 to 13 storeys.

The procurement significance lies in the delivery model. Under Project Tosaigh, the LDA provides finance to private homebuilders to support the construction and completion of new homes, with the completed properties then owned by the State agency. The approach allows public investment to work alongside established private-sector development and construction expertise.

The LDA confirms that Parkgate Street is its second major project with Castlethorn, following the development of 328 cost-rental apartments at Woodbrook in Shankill. John Paul Construction is the main contractor for Parkgate Street.

For National Procurement professionals, the project illustrates the value of partnership-based approaches when public-sector objectives require significant construction capacity. Rather than relying solely on direct delivery, the LDA model creates a framework through which state funding can support private-sector delivery while retaining public ownership of the completed homes.

The scheme also demonstrates how procurement decisions can extend beyond construction alone. The development includes roof terraces, a communal landscaped courtyard, amenities and retail space, while all apartments are planned to achieve an A BER rating. These features bring longer-term considerations around building performance, maintenance, energy management and facilities management into the project lifecycle.

Construction is due to begin in the coming weeks, with completion forecast for late 2029. The project will also contribute to wider regeneration around Heuston Station, with the LDA and CIÉ progressing design work for a phased mixed-use Heuston Quarter masterplan.

For the sector, Parkgate Street provides a practical example of how public funding, private development expertise and construction capacity can be combined through a structured procurement partnership. As Ireland continues to expand housing delivery, such models could remain important for bringing complex urban sites into productive use.

Source: The Journal / Land Development Agency