Statement in response to article in the Irish Times Wednesday 10^th February.

In response to the article titled - 11,500 new homes approved by council beside Adamstown by Olivia Kelly in the Irish Times 10^th Feb. The following statement has been issued by South Dublin County Council regarding

Clonburris Strategic Development Zone.

The Clonburris Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) Planning Scheme and Local Area Plan (LAP) were both approved by South Dublin County Council two years ago, in early 2008.  The SDZ Planning Scheme was also approved An Bord Pleanala, following several appeals, on 5^th November 2008. 

The Clonburris SDZ Planning Scheme will facilitate up to a maximum of 11,500 homes on the SDZ lands, subject to the provision of significant facilities and infrastructure into the future.  To date there has been no planning application for any development on the SDZ Planning Scheme lands.

The Clonburris Local Area Plan will facilitate up to a maximum of 3,500 homes on the LAP lands, subject to the provision of significant facilities and infrastructure into the future.  To date there have been two planning applications for development on the LAP Planning Scheme lands.  These were for:-

1)                   a 16 classroom primary school, which has been completed and is now operational and

2)                   approximately 900 homes, commercial development and new road/bridge infrastructure, which has just been granted planning permission.

The latter development is subject to appeal to An Bord Pleanala until March, which means that it may be later this year before final determination of this application can be made.  It will be a further period of years before housing can be built, sold and occupied on the site i.e. not until 2012 at the earliest and more realistically 2013.  It is worth bearing in mind that these lands have been zoned for development since 1998. 

In the meantime, massive infrastructural investment has been made in this area.  The Clonburris LAP site adjoins two new primary schools, local shops and a new railway station.  The Kildare Route Project has been completed to double the adjoining railway line, as have the adjacent Adamstown Link Road and Outer Ring Road as well as the N4 and M50 upgrades.  Furthermore, an adjoining site is also being acquired for a new post primary school.

South Dublin had the lowest residential vacancy rate in the Country when surveyed as part of the Census in 2006 and still had the lowest rate of residential vacancy per capita in the Country when surveyed more recently.  This confirms a better alignment between supply and demand for housing in South Dublin County than elsewhere.

Reference made to Adamstown in the article is also inaccurate.  To date, approximately 1,100 homes have been occupied in Adamstown, which is located around another railway station 3km to the west, together with supporting infrastructure and facilities as planned.  A further 200 homes are at an advanced stage of construction. There are not significant numbers of vacant homes in Adamstown, especially when compared to similar developments elsewhere around Dublin. 

It would be foolish to assume that the current downturn means that planning for future development should stop.  Urban Planning timescales span years and decades - there is a need for the South Dublin County Council to ensure that we facilitate a sustainable and competitive housing market that allows for affordability, diversity and choice at appropriate locations serviced by the necessary facilities and infrastructure.