Michael Clifford: Are Sisters (and developers) doing it for themselves with rezoning demands? 

The manner in which land is rezoned has contributed hugely to the unaffordability of housing

Developer Jim Kennedy, director of Jackson Way Properties, which is reported to be objecting to the county development plan for Dun Laoighaire/Rathdown on the basis that it is not doing enough for the people of the area. File picture: Collins Courts

Some people can’t do enough for the welfare of the country. Take an old stalwart of the property game, Jim Kennedy, who popped up again recently. Mr Kennedy and his wife Antoinette are directors of Jackson Way Properties, which owns tracts of lands in south Dublin. Last week it was reported that Jackson Way is objecting to the county development plan for Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown on the basis that it is not doing enough for the people of the area.

The plan, a submission for JW states, “does not provide sufficient employment-zoned lands to address the planned requirements of the county”. The company wants the council to rezone 26.77 hectares near the M50 for a hospital campus, a hotel, and employment enterprises. Most of this land is currently zoned for agriculture and rural amenity.