Adamstown Planning Scheme wins European Award

ADAMSTOWN PLANNING SCHEME WINS EUROPEAN PLANNING AWARD

At a ceremony in Seville, Spain, on Thursday 16 November 2006, the European Council of Spatial Planners presented South Dublin County Council with an award that recognises the Adamstown Strategic Development Zone Planning Schemes integrated and holistic approach to planning for large-scale new residential populations.

The Project was nominated for the European Award after winning the Irish Planning Institutes overall Planning Achievement Award in 2005.

The Council won the European and National Planning Awards for its work in preparing and facilitating the implementation of the Planning Scheme for the development of a new residential community at Adamstown near Lucan, Co. Dublin.

The Adamstown Planning Scheme aims to secure a high quality urban environment with the necessary infrastructure and amenities provided in tandem with development. South Dublin County Council established a Project Team to oversee and monitor development.

To date, over 1,000 homes and two primary schools have been permitted together with significant supporting infrastructure. Approximately half of these houses are under construction and a small number of dwellings have been occupied. A new railway station, park and ride, 3km link road and busway are nearing completion and the sod was turned on the first primary school on 17th November, with the school due to open in September 2007.

In accepting the Award, South Dublin County Council Senior Planner, Paul Hogan, welcomed the European Council of Spatial Planners recognition of the Adamstown Planning Scheme, stating that The sight of a large new railway station, high above the tracks in the middle of empty green fields, to serve a planned population of tens of thousands, is quite simply, unprecedented in Irish Planning. The first trains are due to stop at the Station in early 2007.

Paul Hogan acknowledged the role of a willing consortium of private developers, who have responded wholeheartedly to the Scheme in implementing the vision for Adamstown. This is evident in the quantum of infrastructure provided in advance of development to date and the commitment to design quality in bringing forward plans for key areas such as the new District Centre.

Hogan concluded that clear and focused planning can secure qualitative and sustainable outcomes, especially where there is strong developer support and public sector follow-through in certain critical areas at implementation stage. These key areas include transportation services such as trains and buses and social infrastructure, such as schools.

Background Information for Editors:

Adamstown is a new urban district on a greenfield site adjoining the main Dublin-Kildare railway line, 10 miles (16km) west of Dublin City Centre. To be developed over 10 or more years and based on an approved Planning Scheme or Masterplan prepared by South Dublin County Council, Adamstown will provide up to 10,000 new homes along with a range of shopping, employment, leisure, civic & cultural facilities.

Facilities and infrastructure for the new community of Adamstown must be provided in tandem with housing development. A new railway station, bus corridors, roads, schools, parks community buildings, childcare facilities and drainage networks are required on a phased basis.

As Development Agency for the project, South Dublin County Council is committed to ensuring that Adamstown is a sustainable urban community with a strong sense of identity that is attractive, safe and secure in a traditional town and village format and that development occurs at a pace whereby it is supported by all necessary facilities and infrastructure.

More information on the Adamstown development is available at www.adamstown.ie

Date of Release: 16 November 2006

Contacts: Paul Hogan , Senior Planner

Fionnuala Lennon, Adamstown Project Planner

South Dublin County Council Tel: 01 414 9000/086 173 1721

Email: phogan@sdublincoco.ie or flennon@sdublincoco.ie