The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, has welcomed the Government’s decision to approve a multi-annual grant-funding package of €186.3m of infrastructure investment for the Clonburris Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) Enabling Infrastructure Project in South Dublin. The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is providing investment for the necessary infrastructure to develop a new town, Clonburris, located between Lucan, Clondalkin and Liffey Valley. The funding will enable over 8,700 homes to be built on the SDZ site, providing housing for an estimated 23,000 people.

The enabling infrastructure project, part-funded by the URDF, will involve the provision of critical strategic infrastructure to develop this unique and complex site, including:

• New link roads, utility corridors and bridges that will provide connectivity with surrounding areas and facilitate sustainable modes of transport

• Public parks forming part of an integrated network of multi-use public open spaces

• Green infrastructure network that will protect and enhance biodiversity in the SDZ

• Community centres and other multi-purpose civic facilities

• Pumping stations and other sustainable urban drainage measures

• Regional attenuation ponds for drainage management

The URDF support will act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration and development of one of Ireland’s largest underutilised sites, as well as the wider South Dublin area and the region at large. Development of the Clonburris SDZ, a wider project being led by South Dublin County Council, has the potential to be a transformative urban regeneration and development project of national, regional and local significance. The project will facilitate the provision of distinctive and attractive places where housing can be delivered in tandem with state-of-the-art public realm, green infrastructure and community facilities.

In parallel with the delivery of infrastructure, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and South Dublin County Council are progressing plans to deliver up to 2,600 social and affordable homes at six local authority-owned sites in the SDZ.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’Brien said, “this funding will make it possible for a whole new town to be built in west Dublin, the first project of its kind in a generation, one which was strongly supported by the Taoiseach and the wider Government. Clonburris will be a well-designed town with over 8,700 homes, good transport links and vital amenities and services. Up to 2,600 of these homes will be social and affordable homes delivered by my Department and South Dublin County Council. Today’s announcement illustrates the ever-growing reach of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund in revitalising our cities and towns, improving their offering as places in which to live, work, visit or invest.”

The wider project to develop the SDZ, led by South Dublin County Council, comprises:

• Housing – between 7,730 and 11,098 new homes, including:

Approximately 1,000 social homes with approximately. 120 homes of these to be delivered under the Social Housing Public-Private Partnership Programme.

Approximately 1,600 affordable homes, utilising the Affordable Housing Fund.

(The range of 7,730 – 11,098 homes is the housing density range in the SDZ’s planning scheme. The 8,700 figure used earlier relates to housing delivery, as planned, however, more housing could be delivered if appropriate).

• Open space and recreation – 15.5km of cycle ways and walkways, 3.3km of canal frontage, approximately 90 hectares of open space

• Connectivity – 2 train stations, future bus connects, regional linkage (M50, N7, N4)

• Community facilities – 8 schools, 7,300 square metre of community floor space

• Employment – 31,115 square metres of employment floor space

As a key activator of Project Ireland 2040, the URDF is driving regeneration and rejuvenation of strategic and underutilised areas within Ireland’s five cities, key regional drivers and other large towns. To date, the Government has provided funding or approved in principle funding of €1.6 billion for 132 projects.