COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL
Friday, June 19, 2026
MOTION NO.
MOTION: Councillor H. Farrell
Amendment No. 17 Adamstown South and West, Lucan That the Council remove the designation of Adamstown South & West as a Future Strategic Development Area.
Reasons: - no evidence has been presented demonstrating that existing zoned and serviced lands are insufficient to meet housing requirements; - despite SDCC saying this is not necessarily residential rezoning at present, if preparatory work is carried out to support potential future development and rezoning, the rural nature of the land is forever altered. - the lands perform an important strategic role in landscape protection, ecological connectivity and settlement separation; - public consultation identified significant concerns regarding cumulative growth, infrastructure deficits and the loss of strategic green buffers; - designation of the lands as a future growth area is premature while major strategic growth areas remain incomplete.
CE Response:
This motion seeks to remove the proposed designation of lands at Adamstown South and West (Outer) that are currently zoned Objective RU to a 'Future Strategic Long Term Development Area' (SDA) under Variation No. 2 of the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022 2028. The subject lands are located directly west and south of Adamstown SDZ. The Cork-Dublin Rail line runs to the south, alongside the Grand Canal.
Future Strategic Long Term Development Areas (Future SDAs) Designation
The purpose of these lands being identified as part of this Variation is to respond to the NPF Implementation Guidelines which requests that planning authorities consider the long-term housing needs of the County.
Their identification provides for clear strategic direction to enable the lead-in time and necessary preparatory work and analysis to ensure that the most appropriate land uses within the lands can be assessed by SDCC, utility providers, landowners and other key stakeholders to plan for the release of such lands as the need arises into the 2030s.
Related policy is included within the proposed amendments to the Written Statement. In this regard, Policy CS3: Future Long-Term Development Areas, and its associated objectives, require that detailed studies and analysis are undertaken to understand existing land uses and sensitivities, to inform any future consideration of rezoning through a plan-led approach.
CS3 Objective 3 states:
To ensure development of Future SDAs (subject to rezoning) for residential and other uses will be in accordance with an approved plan-led approach, such as a Priority Area Plan or otherwise equivalent appropriate mechanism, which will align housing delivery with, inter alia, climate action objectives, supporting infrastructure, sustainable transport options, educational and community facilities, public open space, green infrastructure networks, cultural heritage and no net loss of important ecological features as surveyed, identified and mapped by a qualified ecologist.
This process ensures that key considerations, including environmental matters are fully assessed. The objective also provides for consideration of infrastructure requirements, that they are fully assessed at the appropriate time with regard to County Development Plan and national policy. It also ensures a considered and plan-led pipeline of land to meet housing and other demands within the county in a sustainable manner in the coming decade and beyond.
This SDA also includes an associated SLO, CS3 SLO1, which states the following:
To protect and enhance the Green Infrastructure Corridor along the western boundary with Kildare and protect the Grand Canal Corridor pNHA as part of any future development proposals for these lands to the south and west of Adamstown SDZ.
Appropriate ecologically informed buffers for GI corridors and the Grand Canal pNHA will form part of the plan-led consideration of the lands.
Having regard to the requirements of the objectives within Policy CS3 and to the SLO it is considered that landscape protection, ecological connectivity and settlement separation will be fully considered as part of the preparatory work and noting that any future recommendations for the zoning of the land will be required to come forward for Members consideration.
Infrastructure Deficits and Cumulative Development
The areas identified as SDAs will be fully reviewed and investigated to understand their needs with regard to infrastructure, including the consideration of the cumulative impacts on surrounding areas and how this can be addressed.
Conclusion
The identification of these lands as an SDA does not constitute rezoning, nor does it predetermine the nature or extent of future development or land uses. Rather, it facilitates a structured and evidence-based assessment of the lands, ensuring that any future proposals will be informed by comprehensive studies addressing infrastructure capacity, environmental sensitivities, cumulative development considerations, transport requirements and community needs. The issues raised in the motion will be appropriately considered as part of the preparatory work and analysis leading to a plan-led approach to long-term growth, as required by Policy CS3 and the related objectives in addition to the policy in the County Development Plan. Any future zoning recommendations arising from the preparatory work, whether of residential or otherwise, will have to come forward for consideration and adoption by the Members.
In addition, the requirement under the revised National Planning Framework to plan for increased housing delivery necessitates the identification of potential long-term growth areas. The SDAs represent a prudent and forward-looking mechanism to ensure the Council can respond to future needs in a coordinated and sustainable way, complementing existing strategic growth areas such as Adamstown SDZ, which is nearing completion.
Accordingly, it is recommended that the amendment to remove the designation as a Future Strategic Long Term Development Area for the lands at Adamstown South and West (Outer) be retained.
CE Recommendation
Reject Motion