About Fidelma

Fidelma is a Commercial Real Estate partner and heads Beauchamps’ specialised Housing group. She is the go-to expert in complex conveyancing and is an acknowledged market leader in the acquisition, construction, delivery, financing and management of social and affordable housing projects.

Fidelma is a key player in the efforts to deliver on Ireland's housing needs.

She works with local authorities, state agencies, Approved Housing Bodies, developers, home builders, lending institutions, pension funds, charities and sporting bodies, as well as institutional investors.

As a result of her extensive experience, Fidelma has a unique insight into the key legal, commercial, and social issues around social and affordable and mixed-tenure housing provision and a deep understanding of the unique and complex challenges that arise in the sector. Fidelma has well-developed client relationship management and project management expertise and regularly collaborates with Beauchamps' construction, banking and procurement teams to deliver bespoke advice particular to stakeholders in the housing sector.

She is ranked in Chambers and Partners and recognised as a leading individual by Legal 500.

Fidelma's particular expertise is in delivering large-scale mixed tenure projects and her housing team has been acknowledged for their contribution to Irish society with the Public Sector Excellence in Business Award for ‘Best Legal Team’ for 7 successive years.

Relevant Experience

  • Respond on various acquisitions and development projects to deliver over 4,000 social and cost-rental homes. This work includes bulk acquisition of homes and advising on construction-led large-scale mixed-use developments, purchase of development sites, drafting and negotiating bespoke development agreements, purchase of assets for remediation, and advising on all related real estate and construction matters, as well as funding through the Housing Finance Agency plc and regulatory and governance matters. Recent projects include the development of 725 homes at Rathborne Wharf, Ashtown, Dublin 15; 590 homes at Pipers Square, Charlestown, Finglas, Dublin; and 318 homes at Seven Mills, Clonburris, Dublin 24.
  • Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (The Housing Agency) on the acquisition and sale of homes under its vacant housing purchase initiative, as well as bulk acquisitions of new housing schemes and as advisor on the Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme.
  • Clúid Housing in relation to the acquisition and development of housing projects to deliver substantial numbers of social and affordable homes, including most recently the forward purchase of 141 homes in the SDZ at Cherrywood, Dublin.
  • The Iveagh Trust on its largest forward purchase project to date of 418 homes at Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.
  • North and East Housing Association in relation to the acquisition of numerous individual units and turn-key housing developments.
  • Dublin City Council on its "first of its kind" local authority-led mixed-use neighbourhood-scale redevelopment of a landmark site (c. 4 ha) at Emmet Road in Dublin 8, including circa. 500 homes.
  • Fingal County Council on the acquisition of both second-hand and new bulk acquisitions, including compliance with Part V agreements.
  • Land Development Agency (LDA) on their Project Tosaigh initiative to unlock delivery of affordable homes on planning-consented lands.
  • National Asset Residential Property Services DAC (NARPS) Beauchamps, predominantly led by Fidelma, has been responsible for the delivery of legal services to NARPS in the implementation of its social housing initiative. This involved the acquisition of circa 2,000 residential units throughout Ireland through multi-unit purchases from NAMA debtors/receivers and the long-term lease of units to Approved Housing Bodies funded by housing authorities.
  • Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) as lender in relation to various facilities provided for significant real estate and housing projects.
  • Ulster Bank DAC and Permanent TSB in relation to the Government’s Mortgage to Rent Scheme.
  • Various major developers on the purchase of multiple greenfield and brownfield sites and on the onwards sale of residential and commercial units, including Cairn Homes plc, Orivo Properties Limited, Urban Life and Manley Construction.
  • IDA Ireland in relation to the real estate aspects of a number of ongoing and strategically important transactions, including acquiring lands to facilitate the strategic development of IDA Technology Parks and leasing of industrial units to international companies to ensure prudent portfolio management.

 

Fidelma McManus stands out for her passion for the sector and her commitment. She is constantly horizon scanning and is both highly technically skilled and practical.
Legal 500 2024
Fidelma McManus is at the fore of the social housing space. Not only is she super knowledgeable, but she is both pragmatic and solution focused and has an inherent courtesy and respect for everyone she deals with. Her passion for social housing delivery is tangible and combined with an inherent positivity and simple humanity makes her a joy to engage with. She works with her team in a way that makes the complexity of dealing with multi-legal areas seamless and secure.
Legal 500 2024
Fidelma McManus offers an amazing service and is knowledgeable and passionate.
Chambers and Partners 2024
Fidelma McManus brings an exceptional level of judgement and experience to bear on the client’s extensive portfolio of transactions.
Legal 500 2023
Fidelma McManus has been a constant supporter of the sector and her solution-based, collaborative approach to managing the challenges results in a great deal of time and as a result cost savings.
Legal 500 2023
Fidelma McManus is fantastic and always goes out of her way to make projects happen.
Chambers and Partners 2023
Fidelma McManus is our first point of contact. She always ensures that she or a member of her team are immediately on hand to offer advice and assistance. Fidelma has assisted in providing a clear understanding on all aspects of the matter in a very professional and courteous manner. As she has reviewed and advised on the national templates for leasing she has a specialist and unique knowledge of all aspects of the current leasing initiatives, and she understands the schemes from both the local authority and the proposer prospective. This has been instrumental in having satisfactory resolutions found on complex issues, thus ensuring that leases exchange in a timely fashion.
Legal 500 2022
Fidelma McManus has been a great support partner to us. Fidelma is always available to my team for legal advice and goes out of her way to work with us to find solutions to complex issues as they arise. Fidelma is a consummate professional who goes above and beyond to deliver the best possible service to us as her clients and ensures that we get the benefit of additional experience she gains.
Legal 500 2022
Fidelma McManus leads a strong team that works collaboratively to deliver social housing units in a timely manner.
Legal 500 2022
I have found the Beauchamps team as led by Fidelma McManus to be very efficient and customer focused. They understand our business model and also the pressures we face in navigating the legal aspects of our property delivery programme. Their knowledge of the social housing sector and our constraints and financing challenges makes them a very valuable delivery partner.
Legal 500 2021
Fidelma McManus is a very customer-focused leader. She goes above and beyond in her attempts to understand and meet her clients needs. She takes a huge interest in the social housing industry and her knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities is of great benefit to the sector. What I appreciate most about Fidelma is her accessibility. I know I can call her anytime for advice or her opinion and will get a straightforward, plain English, unbiased response. She cares deeply about the success of the sector and is passionate about getting the best results for us as a client. She is a phenomenally hard worker who goes above and beyond for her clients and I consider us lucky to have her working with us.
Legal 500 2021
Fidelma McManus stands out for her passion for the sector and her commitment. She is constantly horizon scanning and is both highly technically skilled and practical.
Legal 500 2024

Publications

Budget 2025 as it affects housing
04 Oct 24
Budget 2024 provides additional funding for housing
12 Oct 23
Government launches First Home Scheme
08 Jul 22
The Impact of Measures to Regulate Commercial Institutional Investment in Housing
22 Jun 22
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