COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL
Friday, June 19, 2026
MOTION NO.
MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole with Councillor F. Timmons, Councillor V. Casserly
Amendment No. 2, Pg 48 - Adamstown SDZ West (DART+ Southwest) That this Council amends the Chief Executive's proposed amendment to CS7 SLO4 contained within Amendment No. 2 Adamstown SDZ West by replacing the reference to the commencement of DART+ Southwest with the following wording:
'No significant residential development other than infrastructure necessary to facilitate the delivery of strategic transport infrastructure shall commence until DART+ Southwest and associated rail capacity improvements are operational and demonstrate sufficient capacity to accommodate the cumulative impact of existing and proposed development within the wider Lucan, Adamstown and Clonburris corridor'
REASONS: DART+ Southwest forms a key component of the strategic transport infrastructure relied upon to support future growth within the wider Lucan, Adamstown and Clonburris corridor. The attached timeline visual demonstrates the historic mismatch between housing delivery and infrastructure delivery within the area. This amendment seeks to strengthen the planning framework to ensure future growth is accompanied by the strategic transport infrastructure required to support sustainable communities and proper planning and sustainable development.
CE Response
The motion seeks to include an amend CS7 SLO4 attached to the Adamstown SDZ West Amendment in the proposed Variation as follows:
‘No significant residential development other than infrastructure necessary to facilitate the delivery of strategic transport infrastructure shall commence until DART+ Southwest and associated rail capacity improvements are operational and demonstrate sufficient capacity to accommodate the cumulative impact of existing and proposed development within the wider Lucan, Adamstown and Clonburris corridor'
In terms of impact, the motion appears to be seeking to ensure that no housing is commenced until such time as the Dart+SW is operational and has sufficient capacity to accommodate the populations of Lucan, Adamstown and Clonburris.
Proposed Specific Local Objective (SLO) for Adamstown SDZ West that went out on public display, in relation to Dart+SW stated:
CS7 SLO4: Development on RES-N zoned lands north of Adamstown SDZ West shall comply with the following:
- Development may not commence until Dart+ Southwest has commenced construction.
Additional wording was recommended by the Chief Executive in the CE Report to facilitate development should an equivalent rail service to Dart+SW be delivered which would be unlikely to require the additional rail infrastructure needed by Dart+SW, as follows (bold text):
- Development may notcommenceuntil Dart+ Southwest or the commencement of an equivalent rail service to the Dart has commenced construction or operation, as may be relevant.
Public Transport Provision
Bus Service
The Planning Authority has proposed these lands based on their ability to benefit from proximity to Adamstown Station and planned BusConnects services. It is noted that once the various roads are available for use by buses, this site is intended to be served by the C2, which the NTA indicates has 8 services in the peak hour. These lands are immediately adjacent to existing road infrastructure, being at the termination point of Adamstown Way on which the C2 travels from Adamstown Station to Sandymount by way of Shackleton Drive. The route currently runs down Aderrig Park Avenue as a temporary route until such time as there is connection further to the west of the SDZ to the Celbridge Link Road. While the current bus route is generally within walking distance from the Adamstown West lands, that distance will shorten over time increasing the appeal of the service.
Active Travel
Adamstown SDZ West is located immediately west of the Adamstown SDZ and the established active travel network of pedestrian and cycle routes with strong connections to Adamstown and the wider area. The SDZ already incorporates robust and extensive active travel infrastructure, linking southwards to the Grand Canal Greenway, with further strategic routes planned under Cycle South Dublin. The SLO requires a masterplan-led approach that prioritises connectivity, and permeability, between the existing SDZ and the variation lands.
Enhanced active travel provision will also support modal shift and help optimise capacity on existing and planned public transport services, including bus routes and rail connections.
DART+SW
The SLO attached to Adamstown SDZ West links development to the commencement of DART+ South West. In their submission, the NTA suggested that development at Adamstown West need not be strictly tied to the commencement of DART+ Southwest construction. However, the Planning Authority considers that it is nonetheless important that the enhanced rail service is committed to in order to facilitate efficiencies in the wider public transport network and to encourage modal shift as a behavioural norm, and therefore the link is appropriate.
However, requiring that DART+ Southwest be not only commenced but also operational prior to any commencement of construction of housing would introduce an undue level of uncertainty and dependency on operational timelines that are outside the control of the Planning Authority and risk stalling sustainable growth.
The approach taken by the Planning Authority, to link development to the commencement of Dart+SW is considered to strike an appropriate and proportionate balance between ensuring alignment with strategic transport investment and allowing for orderly, plan-led development.
It is noted that the Dart+ SW is a strategic project with planning approval and will serve the future residents of the subject lands.
Critically, the SLO also mandates a comprehensive masterplan, integrated with the Adamstown SDZ Planning Scheme, alongside a detailed Transport and Traffic Assessment that must address cumulative impacts and demonstrate deliverable measures to secure access to high-capacity public transport, including the existing Bus Connects service, in accordance with national guidelines.
Conclusion
The NPF Implementation Guidelines requires Councils to identify the lands needed for delivery of the new targets within the Development Plan period. They also included the need for Councils to consider capacity for up to 50% above the baseline housing growth requirements to provide options for delivery.
Given the approach taken to the Variation, it is considered that South Dublin has clearly identified sufficient and suitable zoned land, including the Adamstown SDZ West, to meet the housing shortfall for 2028 with built-in additional capacity consistent with the achievement of the shared goals in the NPF, RSES and County Development Plan in relation to compact growth, accessibility, sustainable mobility and climate action.
Adamstown SDZ West is well located to deliver on the requirement to meet the new housing targets and provide for national policy on compact growth.
Public transport to serve Adamstown SDZ West will be facilitated both by accessible high-frequency bus services and by its proximity to the train station. Active travel infrastructure is also adjacent for those who choose to walk or cycle to their destination. It is considered strategically important that the Chief Executive’s recommended SLO in relation to Dart+SW is retained in its current form, as it strikes an appropriate and proportionate balance between ensuring alignment with strategic transport investment and allowing for orderly, plan-led development. In contrast, the proposed change put forward by the motion would, notwithstanding that construction on Dart+ SW may have been commenced, create undue uncertainty and prejudice the delivery of housing to meet the NPF targets.
The absence of the Dart+SW does not in itself preclude the delivery of a high standard of residential amenity and sustainable transport access for future residents of these lands.
Furthermore, the motion SLO as worded is difficult to assess compliance with. The Chief Executive would not recommend a phasing style SLO linked to a variable such as a rail service frequency/ capacity which is open to change. The assessment of compliance with 'significant residential' and 'demonstrating sufficient capacity' will provide uncertainty. Such uncertainty will impact on the timely delivery of housing at this appropriate location.
It is noted that the OPR has recommended progression of the Variation amendments 1-16.
CE Recommendation
To reject the motion.