Submission on the Proposed Material Alterations to Variation No. 2 of the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022–2028
Supporting the Amendments Adopted by the Elected Members
I wish to express my support for a number of the Material Alterations proposed following the decisions of the Elected Members of South Dublin County Council.
The purpose of Variation No. 2 is to facilitate the delivery of additional housing in line with the revised National Planning Framework. However, housing growth must be accompanied by the timely delivery of transport, healthcare, community facilities and other essential infrastructure if sustainable communities are to be created.
The amendments adopted by the elected members strengthen the Variation by ensuring that infrastructure delivery is more closely aligned with future development. They strike an appropriate balance between accommodating future housing growth while protecting environmental assets and recognising the capacity limitations already experienced in parts of the county.
In particular, I wish to support the following amendments affecting Lucan and the surrounding area.
Adamstown South & West (Outer) Strategic Development Area
I strongly support the additional Specific Local Objectives inserted by the elected members for the Adamstown South & West (Outer) Strategic Development Area.
This area represents one of the largest potential future growth areas within South Dublin County. It is therefore essential that the planning framework recognises that large-scale residential development must be accompanied by the delivery of the infrastructure and public services required to create a sustainable community.
The additional Specific Local Objectives strengthen the Development Plan by recognising the need to plan for:
- A new Garda station and community policing facilities to serve the growing population.
- Additional healthcare infrastructure, including provision for future primary healthcare services.
- A swimming pool and leisure facilities to meet the recreational needs of existing and future residents.
- Strategic road infrastructure to support future development and improve connectivity.
- Enhanced public transport infrastructure, including DART+ South West, Luas and wider strategic transport improvements.
- Community facilities and supporting social infrastructure necessary to create a balanced and sustainable community.
These objectives do not prevent development. Instead, they ensure that future growth is properly planned and that essential public infrastructure is recognised within the Development Plan from the outset.
As Adamstown continues to expand residents should not have to wait years or decades for the delivery of facilities that are fundamental to creating a complete community. Including these objectives within the Development Plan provides a stronger policy framework for securing the investment required as development progresses.
Why These Amendments Matter
South Dublin County Council has already identified sufficient housing capacity to meet and exceed its revised housing targets. The challenge now is not simply delivering more housing, but ensuring that future growth takes place in a sustainable and balanced manner.
Lucan is expected to accommodate approximately 35% of the additional housing growth proposed through Variation No. 2 representing one of the largest concentrations of future residential growth within the county.
Despite this significant level of planned development, Lucan currently has:
- Approximately 35% of the proposed additional housing growth under Variation No. 2.
- No DART service.
- No Luas connection.
- One Primary Care Centre serving a rapidly growing population.
- No public hospital.
- A road network already operating under significant congestion and capacity constraints.
These facts clearly demonstrate why an infrastructure-first approach to planning is essential.
South Dublin County Council has distributed future housing growth across a number of settlements. However, Lucan has been identified to accommodate a disproportionately large share of that growth. It is therefore entirely appropriate that the Development Plan contains stronger safeguards to ensure the timely delivery of strategic transport, healthcare and community infrastructure before or alongside future development.
The amendments adopted by the elected members recognise that sustainable communities require more than housing alone. New homes must be supported by investment in public transport, healthcare, community facilities, recreational infrastructure and strategic road improvements.
Collectively, the amendments relating to Adamstown SDZ West, the Adamstown South & West (Outer) Strategic Development Area, Finnstown Castle, St. Edmundsbury and Liffey Valley strengthen the Development Plan by ensuring that future growth is better aligned with infrastructure delivery, environmental protection and long-term community wellbeing.
This approach is fully consistent with the principles of proper planning and sustainable development.
Conclusion
I respectfully request that the Chief Executive retain these Material Alterations in the final adopted Variation.
These amendments do not prevent future growth. Instead, they improve the quality of the Development Plan by ensuring that housing delivery is balanced with investment in transport, healthcare, community facilities, environmental protection and other essential infrastructure.
Retaining these amendments will help ensure that South Dublin continues to grow in a sustainable, well-planned and infrastructure-led manner for the benefit of both existing and future communities.
Regards,
Cllr. Liona O'Toole
Independent Cllr for the Lucan area.