Plan to rezone Liffey Valley lands owned by Magnier and McManus for housing rejected
Plans to rezone protected “high amenity” lands in west Dublin have been rejected by South Dublin County councillors.
Motions to “retain” the existing high amenity zoning at the St Edmundsbury site near Lucan and “reject” proposals to redesignate it for residential development were carried.
The decision means the site, which has been protected from development for decades because of its environmental and landscape value, will retain its current status.
At a special council meeting on Friday evening, councillors considered several proposed rezonings as part of the local authority’s review aimed at accommodating future housing growth.
South Dublin County Council had identified 156 hectares of land across the county for potential rezoning as part of the process.
The St Edmundsbury site, on the south side of the River Liffey between Lucan and Hermitage Golf Club, was purchased by billionaire businessmen John Magnier and JP McManus for €4.3m in 2013.
Developer Michael O’Flynn had sought to build 540 homes on the land.
Ahead of Friday’s vote, Mr O’Flynn had described the council’s decision on the rezoning of several large sites, including St Edmundsbury, as “critical” to tackling Ireland’s housing crisis.
Developer Michael O’Flynn. Photo: Douglas O’Connor
Attempts to rezone the lands for housing have previously been rejected by councillors, largely due to concerns over the area’s environmental, ecological and natural amenity value.
That position remained unchanged on Friday night, with councillors from across the chamber arguing that the long-term environmental importance of the site outweighed the case for residential development.
Speaking at the meeting, Independent councillor Liona O’Toole said the lands formed part of the wider Liffey Valley landscape and performed “an important biodiversity, environmental and green infrastructure function”.
“Once these lands are rezoned and developed, the change is permanent,” she said.
Fine Gael councillor Caroline Brady argued that preserving the area would help climate change.
“I think there’s a vision that we have to uphold for the people of Dublin, because the Liffey is part of our identity in Lucan, but it’s part of our identity as Dubliners,” she said.
“It’s not now about being an area of outstanding beauty, it’s now about climate change, it’s now about a city that we will look to in the future, being a vibrant European city.
“The green area that is comprised of St Edmundsbury is a thing for us to preserve for the people of the future to decide what they want to do with it.”
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful in 2050 that people will look back at us and say that we had gotten the integrity and we had the vision to save the lands at St Edmundsbury?” she added.
The St Edmundsbury site near Lucan in west Dublin
Fianna Fáil councillor Tanya McDonald also spoke in favour of retaining the existing zoning.
“I’ve really enjoyed walks in those lands over the years, especially during Covid,” she said.
“Every time I go there I’m struck by the same thing. Despite being so close to a busy urban area, they feel completely removed from it.
“You can stand in those fields, look across the valley and forget you’re on the outskirts of Dublin. I don’t think that’s something we should take for granted.
“It’s not about being anti-development,” Cllr McDonald added.
“It’s about recognising that some places are simply too important to lose and that not every piece of open land should be viewed as a development opportunity.”
Cllr Helen Farrell (Ind) said the area represented an “extremely ancient landscape” with a “very rich biodiversity”.
“What we should be doing is adding to the special amenity area, especially given that we are in the middle of climate change…I think the legacy we need to leave to our children is a bigger special amenity area and a Liffey Valley Park.”
People Before Profit councillor Gino Kenny questioned whether any homes built on the site would be affordable for “average” buyers.
“If houses are built there, they will be absolutely unaffordable for the average person,” he said.
The only councillor who spoke to oppose the motions was Cllr Alan Edge (Ind).
“We’ve had email campaigns from people who don’t want anything built anywhere, ever,” he said.
“We haven’t had an email campaign from the people who are struggling to put a roof over their kids’ heads.”
During the meeting, Director of Planning and Transport Eoin Burke said the proposed residential lands had been reduced to 9.67 hectares in response to submissions.
“This site has some very obvious advantages in terms of its proximity to Lucan Village, sustainable transport integration and compact growth,” he said.
“This is a small piece of land that is up close to the road, it’s separated from the most sensitive parts of this corridor. It is close to some other buildings there and the hospital.”
South Dublin County Council received more than 2,600 submissions during the public consultation process, with approximately 1,600 relating specifically to the proposed rezoning of St Edmundsbury.
The review of land zoning follows a Government direction issued last year encouraging local authorities to identify additional lands suitable for housing development in an effort to increase housing supply.
During Friday’s meeting, which continued late into the evening, councillors also approved the rezoning of lands at Citywest.
However, they attached conditions requiring any future development to include sports facilities, playing pitches and a public park.
Councillors also approved the rezoning of lands at Ballynakelly in Newcastle, Adamstown SDZ West, Tubber Lane and St Edmondstown Road.
Councillors are due to reconvene on Wednesday to continue considering the remaining rezoning proposals.