Massive Development Zone Approved In South Dublin

An Bord Pleanala has approved the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) Planning Scheme for Clonburris, which could see thousands of homes built over the next decade.

This is the fourth SDZ Planning Scheme approved in Ireland and is the second in the South Dublin County Council area, after Adamstown.

The An Bord Pleanala decision facilitates up to 11,505 homes in the SDZ area of Clonburris in addition to the 3,500 permissible in the Local Area Plan (LAP) area of Clonburris.

In accordance with the South Dublin County Council Planning Scheme, the decision confirms the requirement for significant supporting infrastructure and facilities on a phased basis, including rail/metro stations, roads, bridges, schools, shopping and parks, as well as leisure and employment uses.


The Clonburris SDZ Planning Scheme and LAP is also intended as a major new eco-district and requires significant environmental sustainability measures in terms of transport, energy use, carbon reduction and biodiversity.

The SDZ was originally approved by South Dublin County Council in January 2008 and the LAP was approved by the County Council in April 2008.

The majority of the SDZ lands are in private ownership, mostly owned by large established developers. In addition to having the role of Development Agency for the area, South Dublin County Council is also a minor landowner in the SDZ.

Approval of the SDZ Planning Scheme means that planning applications for development in compliance with the Planning Scheme will be granted planning permission and those that are not will be refused.

There may be no appeal against a planning decision by any party. The normal appeal process will apply in the LAP area.

It is estimated that the Clonburris area will take at least 15-20 years to develop, and may be home to 35,000 people in the future.

Some of the Clonburris lands have been zoned for development since 1972, but it is only in recent years that the lands have been made accessible as a result of the provision of major road and rail infrastructure.

(PR/JM)