COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL
Friday, June 19, 2026
MOTION NO.
MOTION: Councillor Joanna Tuffy with Councillor C. Brady
Amendment No. 17 Adamstown South and West (Outer) Proposed Variation Objectives Policy CS3: Future Strategic Long-Term Development Areas Insert to CS3 SLO 1: Page 25 written statement
'and to collaborate with Kildare County Council in respect of green belts as set out in Objective GI 6 Chapter 4 of the County Development Plan 2022 to 2028.'
'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 any such proposal, and to collaborate with Kildare County Council in respect of green belts as set out in Objective GI 6 Chapter 4 of the County Development Plan 2022 to 2028'
Reason - To ensure proper planning and policy alignment between South Dublin County Council and Kildare County Council in respect of green infrastructure and green belt protection along the county boundary.
CE Response
This motion is in relation to the 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 with the boundary with Kildare County Council to the west.
Proposed SDA Designation and Associated Policy and Objectives
Policy CS3 which relates to the proposed SDAs includes a number of objectives, notably:
CS3 Objective 1:To commence preparatory studies and analysis of the Future SDAs, as identified on the development plan maps, to understand the existing land uses and ecological sensitivities and to inform the preparation of future proposals for rezoning to meet the needs of the County through an holistic approach to plan making. The exact lands to be brought forward as future rezoning may change according to the outcome of these studies.
And
CS3 Objective 3: 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.
For Adamstown South and West (Outer) SDA these objectives are further augmented by SLO: CS3 SLO1 which states:
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.
The motion seeks to insert further wording into CS3 SLO1 so that it would read as follows (additional wording proposed in motion shown bold):
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 any such proposal, and to collaborate with Kildare County Council in respect of green belts as set out in Objective GI 6 Chapter 4 of the County Development Plan 2022 to 2028.
As indicated above and below, CS3 Objective 3 in the proposed Variation already includes the need for no net loss of important ecological features as surveyed, identified and mapped by a qualified ecologist:
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. (underlining for emphasis)
Furthermore, the County Development Plan, as adopted, already includes a number of objectives which relate including GI1 Objective 6 which states:
To collaborate with Kildare County Council to identify a common approach to a greenbelt / green spaces between the growing settlements within South Dublin and Kildare County Councils within the lifetime of the Development Plan and to advise the councillors of any such collaboration and proposed study or approach.
And in relation to pNHAs the CDP contains the following objectives:
Policy NCBH4: Proposed Natural Heritage Areas Natural, Cultural and Built Heritage (NCBH) Protect the ecological, visual, recreational, environmental and amenity value of the County’s proposed Natural Heritage Areas and associated habitats and species.
NCBH4 Objective 1: To ensure that any proposal for development within or adjacent to a proposed Natural Heritage Area (pNHA) is designed and sited to minimise its impact on the biodiversity, ecological, geological and landscape value of the pNHA particularly plant and animal species listed under the Wildlife Acts and the Habitats and Birds Directive including their habitats.
NCBH4 Objective 2: To restrict development within or adjacent to a proposed Natural Heritage Area to development that is directly related to the area’s amenity potential subject to the protection and enhancement of natural heritage and visual amenities including biodiversity and landscapes. Such developments will be required to submit an Ecological Impact Assessment prepared by a suitably qualified professional.
Conclusion
Having regard to the policies and objectives set out above, both in the proposed Variation and the existing policy in the County Development Plan, the proposal in the motion is comprehensively addressed. This includes for the requirement for a structured and evidence-based assessment of the lands, ensuring that any future proposals will be informed by comprehensive studies carried out by qualified ecologists addressing any environmental sensitivities on the lands and the need to collaborate with Kildare County Council on an appropriate approach to settlement management and the green spaces in between them.
The Planning Authority will apply these protections to the lands in question while progressing a plan-led and evidence-based assessment of the identified study areas. Any future consideration of the SDA lands will be informed by these existing safeguards, ensuring that environmental, landscape and greenbelt / green space priorities remain integral to all investigations and potential outcomes.
Having regard to the motion being substantially addressed in the proposed Variation and the existing CDP it is recommended that there is no change to Amendment 17- Adamstown South and West (Outer) to the proposed Variation of the County Development Plan 2022-2028.
CE Recommendation
No change to Amendment 17- Adamstown South and West (Outer) to the proposed Variation of the County Development Plan 2022-2028.