Controversial town plan gets go-ahead
The strategy allows for a fast-track planning process for the phased development of houses and amenities including roads, schools and shops at Adamstown over the next decade.
It has also provided some good news for former Fianna Fáil TD, Liam Lawlor who could benefit by €2.5m from the project.
An Bord Pleanála yesterday approved the controversial Adamstown Strategic Development Zone, the first of its kind in the State, submitted by South Dublin County Council which will provide housing for up to 30,000 people on a greenfield site in 13 phased stages.
However, the planning authority attached 26 conditions to the high-density project which will require the developers to provide schools, roads and other infrastructure at staged intervals before being allowed to progress with the construction of further housing.
Under legislation governing SDZs, a decision on planning permission by the local authority cannot be appealed so long as the development is within the terms of the agreed plan for Adamstown.
Several groups had appealed the original plan lodged by South Dublin County Council on the basis that the staged development of Adamstown without strict controls would add significantly to the problems of poor infrastructure and urban sprawl which already exist in the Lucan area.
Green Party TD Paul Gogarty said yesterday's ruling was a major blow for sustainable development in west Dublin.
"This decision will place huge hardship on the people of Lucan, in terms of extra traffic, extra pressure on schools, as well as major disruption while Adamstown is being built," said the Dublin Mid-West TD.
The Green Party has also said it will raise the issue of the lack of any Environmental Impact Statement for the Adamstown project with the European Commission, although it accepts that the An Bord Pleanála decision is likely to be a "fait accompli".
The ruling was also given a mixed reaction by Deliver It Right an umbrella group for various Lucan residents' associations.
Spokesperson, Tom Dowling said local residents were particularly pleased An Bord Pleanála had imposed strict conditions about the provision of schools and an upgraded rail service for Adamstown.
However, Mr Dowling expressed disappointment at the failure of South Dublin County Council to carry out an Environmental Impact Statement for the large-scale development. He also criticised the removal of the restriction on heavy construction traffic being allowed to use the Newcastle Road during the development stage. "It will cause havoc in the area," he predicted.
Ciaran Kennedy, spokesperson for South Dublin County Council said the local authority was "very happy" with the decision. He claimed four key changes made by An Bord Pleanála to the original plan would not pose any major difficulties.
An Bord Pleanála did not accept a submission by Mr Lawlor's wife, Hazel, to have the family home and surrounding lands rezoned and included in the SDZ area.
