COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Friday, June 19, 2026

MOTION NO.

MOTION: Councillor S. O'Hara

For amendment 2 (Newcastle) That the SLO be amended to increase the provision of the park from 2 ha to 3ha, and the Park shall provide an all-weather pitch.

Reason: The current park reservation of 2 ha is insufficient and should include provision for a playing pitch. There is a campaign locally to deliver an astro pitch for existing sports clubs, and this site could fulfil that community need.

Co-Sponsored: Cllr. Brian Lawlor, Cllr. Sarah Barnes

CE Response:

The CE acknowledges the intent of the motion. Amendment No. 1 at Ballynakelly, Newcastle proposes to change 24.47ha of land from Objective Rural ‘RU’ to Objective New Residential ‘RES-N’ (19.56ha) and Open Space ‘OS’ (4.91ha). The Amendment attaches a specific local objective (CS9 SLO5) to the lands as follows: 

‘Development on RES-N zoned land south of Ballynakelly shall be in accordance with a masterplan for the lands to be prepared by the planning authority or in consultation with, and approved by, the planning authority in advance of the submission of a planning application for residential development which provides for, inter alia:  

  1. Delivery of a public park of a minimum of 2 hectares in tandem with, or prior to, development of the site, 
  2. Reservation of a secondary school site of 3 hectares unless otherwise agreed in writing by the planning authority having regard to the requirements of the Department of Education and Youth, 
  3. Active travel connections to the existing Taobh Chnoic Park and land to the east, and  
  4. Use of the existing unfinished structure on site in an early phase of development in a sustainable manner which is compatible with neighbouring residential uses’. 

The motion seeks to amend point 1 of CS9 SLO5 by increasing the provision of the park from 2 hectares to 3 hectares, and requiring the provision of an all-weather pitch.  

Expansion of the Park Provision 

The lands proposed in the Variation are to be zoned from Rural to New-Residential (19.56ha) and Open Space (4.91ha). The open space (OS) zoning proposed to the east will ensure a significant area of zoned open space adjoining the proposed RES-N area to facilitate active recreation.  Part of the lands to the east to be zoned for open space contain a car park and GAA pitch, and the proposed OS zoning will extend these lands further to the south. These OS lands provide sufficient opportunity for the delivery of an all weather pitch.    

In addition, the proposed RES-N zoned lands immediately adjoin at the northwest boundary the recently completed Taobh Chnoic Park of approximately 4.4 hectares containing a large play space, exercise equipment, a Multi-Use Games Area (With facility for soccer / tennis and basketball), a large allotment area, a soccer sized grass pitch and walking, jogging and cycling routes in a high quality landscape. There is a requirement under CS9 SLO5 point 3 for Active travel connections to the existing Taobh Chnoic Park and the ‘OS’ land to the east, linking the two areas of open space.  

Having regard to the extensive areas of new Open Space zoning, to the recent delivery of multiple sports and recreational facilities a Taobh Chnoic Park, both adjoining the proposed RES-N lands, and to the inclusion for the requirement of a 2 hectare park and links to the parklands to the east and west of the zoning, it is considered unnecessary to require a further 1 hectare of park within the RES-N zoning. It is noted that the RES-N zoning also requires a 3 hectare site for a school reservation, in total reducing the area for housing and other related infrastructure, including the active travel requirements, by 5 hectares. 

Conclusion 

Given the context within the Ballynakelly lands, with existing Taobh Chnoic Park, including its multi-use games area and other facilities, to the northwest, and the proposed zoning of approximately 4.91 hectares as ‘OS’ in the eastern part of Ballynakelly lands, in addition to the proposed 2 hectare park within the RES-N zoning, it is considered that the provision of an additional 1 hectare of park and all-weather pitch within the RES-N zoning as proposed in the motion is not required and would unduly impact on the delivery of housing. Opportunity exists to provide the all weather pitch on the OS lands to the east and the Council will active pursue same.

CE Recommendation: 

No change to Amendment No. 1 Ballynakelly of Variation No. 2 to the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028.