COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Friday, June 19, 2026

MOTION NO.

MOTION: Councillor C. Brady

Amendment 2(Adamstown SW) Amend the proposed SLO no 1 to delete: Development may not commence until Dart+ Southwest or the commencement of an equivalent rail service to the Dart has commenced construction or operation, as may be relevant.

And replace with: That development shall not commence in advance of the delivery of additional capacity on the rail service to Adamstown and Kishoge, and that the occupation of residential units be subject to the commencement and operation of the Dart+ South West service, or the commencement of an equivalent rail service to the Dart.

Reason: The current rail infrastructure is already operating at full capacity and urgently needs to be upgraded before additional demand comes onstream. Homes must be delivered hand in hand with the necessary increased infrastructure, therefore the population along this rail corridor should not be increased until Dart+ South West is operational.

CE Response

The motion seeks to amend the SLO, point 1 to state:

That development shall not commence in advance of the delivery of additional capacity on the rail service to Adamstown and Kishoge, and that the occupation of residential units be subject to the commencement and operation of the Dart+ South West service, or the commencement of an equivalent rail service to the Dart.

The reason for the motion indicates that the rail infrastructure is operating at full capacity and needs urgent upgrading. It is put that the population along the rail corridor should not be increased until Dart+SW is operational. 

Link to Dart+SW Project

It is important to recognise the relationship between the site and DART+ South West and that the Planning Authority considers that enhanced rail capacity remains strategically important to ensure that there is adequate public transport options for Adamstown and the proposed lands in this Variation, notably with the proposed connections outlined in the SLO. The SLO attached to Adamstown SDZ West links development to the commencement of DART+ South West. 

It is noted that the Dart+ SW is a strategic project with planning approval and will serve the future residents of the subject lands. 

The Planning Authority has proposed these lands based on their ability to benefit from proximity to Adamstown Station as well as the 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.

However, and with respect to the motion, requiring that DART+ Southwest be not only commenced but also constructed and operational prior to occupation 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 Chief Executive carefully considered the principle and wording of the SLO for the Dart+ SW and on balance, considers it to be appropriate. In general, the Chief Executive would not recommend linking the delivery of specific residential lands to a strategic transport project at zoning stage as this partially pre-determines the transport accessibility of the lands in advance of the detailed, evidence-based assessment that is properly undertaken at planning application stage. 

The approach taken in the proposed CE SLO, 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, integrating 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 land for rezoning, including the Adamstown SDZ 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 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. It is considered that this motion, providing a SLO linking to the completion of the Dart+ SW will undermine the timely delivery of housing on this site. 

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 'additional capacity' will provide uncertainty in relation to the baseline for the measurement of additional (e.g train frequency or passenger capacity and base to measure against). Such uncertainty will impact on the timely delivery of housing at this appropriate location. 

CE Recommendation

To reject the motion.