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 W. Carey

Proposed Amendments to Variation no 2.- Adamstown SDZ West - Page 48 Motion: This Council agrees to amend Variation No. 2 (Amendment No.10) to read: 'Development should only proceed following the construction of a shared pedestrian/cycle connection from the junction of the Celbridge Rd/New Celbridge Link Rd to the junction of the Celbridge Rd/Cooldrinagh Lane.'

Reason: This being an 'Active Travel' improvement measure to the west, enabling newer communities to travel safely via the new Celbridge Link Rd-Celbridge Rd-Cooldrinagh Lane-N4 Footbridge-Cooldrinagh Ln Nth-Leixlip Rd/Village/St Catherine's Park and beyond.

Proposed by, Cllr Loftus, Carey, Dunne, Whelan & Mannion

CE Response 

This motion seeks to amend CS7 SLO4, as follows: 

Development should only proceed following the construction of a shared pedestrian/cycle connection from the junction of the Celbridge Rd/New Celbridge Link Rd to the junction of the Celbridge Rd/Cooldrinagh Lane. 

The Planning Authority notes that the motion refers to Amendment 10, which is Stonewall in the variation, however states Adamstown SDZ West and references page 48 in the CE Report which relates to same. Therefore, it is considered that the motion being proposed was for variation lands at Adamstown SDZ West. 

Active Travel Route – Cooldrinagh link 

The development of safe and accessible walking and cycling infrastructure is strongly supported as part of the Council’s broader commitment to sustainable transport and active travel.  

It is noted that the National Transport Authority (NTA), through the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan and initiatives such as SDCC’s Cycle South Dublin programme, continues to review, develop and prioritise active travel schemes across the County. These programmes are designed to respond to current and projected demand, ensuring that investment is directed in a coordinated and strategic manner through SDCC via the NTA. In this regard, opportunities for additional links, including the route referenced in the motion, can be considered as part of these wider programmes via the funding mechanisms provided from the NTA. 

Notwithstanding this, it is considered that the proposed SLO wording amendment, which would make the commencement of development contingent upon the prior delivery of a specific off-site pedestrian and cycle connection, outside the redline of the lands, may be overly restrictive in the context of the established transport framework for the area, notably those in Adamstown SDZ, an area which already benefits from a comprehensive and well-integrated active travel network, including high-quality pedestrian and cycle connections linking: 

These existing and planned connections, together with access to high-frequency public transport services, provide a strong and sustainable mobility framework for both existing and future residents. 

While the Planning Authority is supportive of the investigation and potential delivery of additional active travel connections, it is considered more appropriate that such infrastructure is planned, prioritised and delivered through the relevant transport agencies and programmes in the Council, rather than being directly tied to the commencement of residential development without the relevant funding or programme for delivery. 

This may also have the unintended effect of placing disproportionate emphasis on a single route, potentially impacting the prioritisation and delivery of other active travel projects ongoing or planned across the County, which are being advanced based on strategic need and available resources, in the interest of housing delivery as per the NPF requirements, impacting spatial equity elsewhere in SDCC. 

The Planning Authority will continue to engage with the NTA and other relevant stakeholders to support and promote enhanced active travel connectivity in the area, including the potential for future links of the nature proposed. However, it is considered that the existing policy and SDZ framework already provides for a high level of accessibility and connectivity, and that additional linkages can be appropriately progressed in a coordinated manner without constraining the timely delivery of housing on the lands. 

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 West lands, 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 ensure that national policy on housing delivery and compact growth is achieved. While the Planning Authority supports the principle of new active travel routes, it is considered more appropriate that such infrastructure is planned, prioritised and delivered through the relevant transport agencies and programmes in the Council, rather than being directly tied to the commencement of residential development without the relevant funding or programme for delivery. 

The proposed Active Travel route should be considered as part of a review to Cycle South Dublin Programme. 

CE Recommendation 

To amend the motion and to adopt Amendment No. 2 Adamstown SDZ West with the following amendment to CS7 SLO4 to reflect the recommendations in the CE Report (changes in bold):   

Development on RES-N zoned lands to the west of Adamstown SDZ shall comply with the following:   

1. Development may notcommenceuntil Dart+ Southwest has commenced construction or an equivalent rail service to the Dart+SW is operational, as may be relevant. 

2. An infrastructure masterplan shall be submitted to the planning authority as part of a planning application for residential development, addressing the water and wastewater network upgrades as necessary to serve the                subject lands while demonstrating that the needs of zoned lands in the surrounding area, includingClonburrisSDZ, are not compromised. To be agreed with Uisce Éireann in advance of submission of a planning application. 

3. A masterplan for the lands, integrated with the existing parameters of the Adamstown SDZ Planning Scheme, shall 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 on the subject lands. Having regard to the cumulative development potential around and including the subject lands, the masterplan shall be          informed by and address, inter alia:

a. Retention and enhancement of the east-west hedgerow in the northern part of the site as recorded on 1st Edition OS maps, unless required for wider movement needs, 

b. A Social Infrastructure Audit and provision within development proposals to address any needs identified,

c. A Transport and Traffic Assessment detailing the impact of the proposed development and measures to alleviate its impact, 

d. A Public Open Space Audit to inform proposals for public open space and recreational facilities, and 

e. Provision for future infrastructure and access connections to lands to the south and west, including reservation for a future vehicular bridge over the railway line, unless determined otherwise in writing by the planning                  authority; and

f.  Ensure adequate educational capacity for sites adjacent to Adamstown are catered for in consultation with the Department of Education and Youth.