Support for the Omission of Residential Rezoning at Finnstown Castle
Dear Planning Team,
I strongly support Material Alteration 3.1 (Amendment Ref. No. 3) because it removes the proposed residential zoning from the Finnstown Castle lands.
1. Heritage, Wildlife & Open Space
These lands represent a vital green lung and open space for the local community. They provide an irreplaceable habitat for local wildlife and contribute significantly to the visual character and heritage of Lucan and Adamstown. They must be protected from future housing development and retained for the benefit of current and future generations.
2. Countering the NTA: Real-World Public Transport Capacity Deficits
I strongly object to the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) recommendation to rezone these lands. While the NTA points to theoretical public transport route counts on paper (such as the C1, C2, and L53 bus corridors and Adamstown rail), local residents daily experience overcrowded buses, full trains, bus bypasses during morning peak hours, and unserviceable gaps. Public transport route proximity on paper cannot justify adding high-density housing when existing infrastructure is already operating beyond peak capacity.
3. Traffic Congestion & Local Road Bottlenecks
The existing road network—specifically the Newcastle Road (R120), the outer ring road connections, and feeder routes leading to the N4—already suffers from severe morning and evening traffic congestion. Introducing hundreds of extra vehicle movements from a residential development at Finnstown Castle will severely worsen local gridlock, lengthen commute times, and create road safety hazards for local pedestrians and school children.
4. Overstretched Social Infrastructure & Schools
Sustainable development requires local infrastructure to match housing growth. Primary and secondary schools in the Lucan and Adamstown areas are already at maximum enrollment capacity, and local health, childcare, and sports amenities are under severe pressure. Rezoning Finnstown Castle without prior delivery of essential social infrastructure is unsustainable.
For these reasons, I urge South Dublin County Council to uphold the decision of our elected representatives and adopt Material Alteration 3.1 in full.
Yours sincerely,
Subhendu Mohapatra