The purpose of strategic development zones or SDZs is to ensure a much greater degree of certainty both in securing planning permission and the time horizon involved in relation to development that is of strategic economic and social importance to the State.
While candidate SDZs for housing development were listed in the recently published review of the housing market, decisions have not yet been taken on suitable sites. Such sites can only be designated by Government order following commencement of the Planning and Development Bill. The selection of sites will have regard to objective criteria including the capacity of the site to deliver a significant quantity of housing, the availability of necessary services such as water, sewerage, roads and public transport and the planning status of the land in question. My Department will shortly commence a series of detailed consultations with local authorities to determine what sites could best be developed using the SDZ process so that decisions can be taken by the Government at the earliest possible date following commencement of the Bill. It is my intention that the necessary arrangements will be finalised to ensure that project offices for the SDZs can be established as soon as sites are designated.