In particular, I welcome the requirements for:

• delivery of the Liffey Valley park in tandem with, or prior to, residential development,

• preparation of a comprehensive masterplan,

• an Ecological Impact Assessment,

• retention and enhancement of the historic hedgerow and tree line,

• a landscape and historical character assessment,

• a Transport and Traffic Assessment, and

• a Design Statement addressing the Protected Structures and their setting.

These measures recognise the environmental, landscape and heritage sensitivity of the site and will help ensure that any future development is p

I wish to express my support for the proposed amendments relating to Amendment Ref. Nos. 2 (Adamstown SDZ West), 3 (Finnstown Castle), 4 (Tubber Lane North), 6 (St. Edmundsbury Specific Local Objective), and 7 (Edmondstown Road).

I welcome the approach taken by South Dublin County Council in strengthening the planning framework for these lands by requiring comprehensive masterplanning, infrastructure assessments and environmental safeguards before residential development can proceed.

In particular, I support the inclusion of measures requiring:

• Development to be linked to the delivery of strategic transport infrastructure, including DART+ South West where applicable.

• Infrastructure masterplans demonstrating adequate water and wastewater capacity before development commences.

• Comprehensive Transport and Traffic Assessments to identify and mitigate the impact of development on the surrounding road network.

• Social Infrastructure Audits to ensure communities are supported by appropriate services and facilities.

• Public Open Space Audits and the delivery of high-quality public open space.

• The retention and enhancement of existing hedgerows and mature tree lines, recognising their ecological, landscape and historical importance.

• Ecological Impact Assessments to protect biodiversity and ecological connectivity.

• Design Statements ensuring development responds appropriately to Protected Structures and their settings.

• The provision of active travel links to improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists.

• The requirement for the Liffey Valley park at St. Edmundsbury to be delivered in tandem with, or prior to, adjoining residential development.

I also welcome the emphasis on coordinated planning through masterplans rather than piecemeal development. This approach helps ensure that housing delivery is supported by the necessary transport, utility, environmental and community infrastructure while respecting the natural and built heritage of the area.

My support for the proposed Specific Local Objectives is based on the inclusion of these safeguards and should not necessarily be interpreted as support for every associated zoning change proposed elsewhere in the variation.

Overall, I believe these amendments represent a positive step towards ensuring that future development is infrastructure-led, environmentally responsible and integrated with existing communities, and I encourage the Council to retain these requirements in the final Variation.