Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 15 Oct 2009

Vol. 197 No. 6

Strategic Development Zones.

Senator Shane Ross

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, to the House. I am used to bellyaching here about getting the wrong Minister on a subject and not getting the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. However, considering the matter I am addressing is in the heart of or on the borderline of the Minister of State's constituency, it is appropriate he is here. A large number of the people who have come to me on the issue live in the heart of his constituency and some of the 400 acres in question are in it also.

The issue concerns the need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to outline whether he has received a request from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council regarding a strategic development zone in Cherrywood and the need for him to make a statement on the matter. The residents approached me owing to their alarm that after a discussion at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the council has approached the Minister requesting him to rezone 400 acres, a large portion of land, as a strategic development zone. The people are very alarmed by this because the effect of such an order, which may now be on the Minister's desk, will bar future third party objections. If this is the effect of such an order, it means the democratic planning process lacks popular input, which is important to those affected by this particular plan. I realise the plan may not come to fruition in the next few weeks, months or years. It may well be that commercial development of the sort envisaged will be on the long finger for a very long time. Nevertheless, once the zoning order is made, there is no rowing back and no real democratic process left in which residents can engage.

The Minister of State is aware that the valley in question, the Ballycorus area between Kilternan and the N11, is one of the few rural valleys left in south County Dublin because of the extraordinary outbreak of building of apartments and housing in the area in recent times. On environmental grounds, it would be a very dangerous step to permit this last remaining valley, which has great historical significance, to be developed or, as it appears to some people's minds, destroyed in some bolt for development which is no longer necessary. I suggest the Minister should make a statement on the status of this particular order, whether he has been asked to make it, whether the local county council has sought it and what his intentions are in its regard.

Another matter has also been brought to my attention, namely, that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has already invested in and has ownership of part of the land in question. If that is the case and it has spent between €50 million and €60 million, the question must be asked whether the county council planning authority can be independent in making decisions on the matter in future. If it has a vested interest, we should know what that is. The process should be open and transparent and the Minister, if making an order, should make a judgment on whether the council is an independent body if it has a financial interest in the area.

There is also a question of whether this particular parcel of land is owned by a high profile developer who is already in a fair amount of difficulty because of the property development crisis. Can the Minister of State say whether this is the same developer, what the consequences for such a developer will be and whether this land is likely to be taken over by NAMA or placed in a liquidation pot which is looming in the near future? I ask the Minister of State to enlighten us about this in order that a public discussion may proceed and those residents who are concerned might be reassured that no such order for a strategic development zone is about to be made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Barry Andrews)

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this topic and outline how key Departments have been working with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to progress the development of Cherrywood which represents one of the largest remaining undeveloped land banks in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, consisting of approximately 350 hectares, although some mixed residential and office development has taken place nearby at Loughlinstown. The county council estimates that, over a 15 to 20 year timeframe, Cherrywood has the potential to accommodate a resident population of 32,000, equating to 12,500 residential units, and a working population of 18,000, with 350,000 sq. m of commercial and business units. It can also provide for 140,000 sq. m of general services and retail development. Facilitating substantial development in Cherrywood is consistent with the national spatial strategy which seeks to consolidate such development in or adjacent to the metropolitan area in well-designed and integrated urban environments serviced by public transport. In addition, the regional planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area specifically designate Cherrywood as a moderate growth town within the Dublin metropolitan area.

Having regard to the scale of development envisaged and its strategic planning importance in facilitating the consolidation of the greater Dublin metropolitan area, it is considered that the sustainable development of Cherrywood is of significant economic and social importance to the further growth of the capital. The county council has invested considerable resources in developing a strategic vision for Cherrywood called the draft "Cherrywood Masterplan and the Common Infrastructure Implementation Plan", based on the creation of a town centre and three village centres, each with an appropriate range of retail, commercial, community and other facilities. The plan sets out the type, location and scale of development envisaged and the way in which the delivery of the required economic and social infrastructure will be provided for. The council has also held consultations with key Departments and delivery agencies regarding, for example, the provision of transport infrastructure such as the extension of the Luas line from Sandyford, the extension of the quality bus corridor network to service the area and the provision of new schools to cater for the planned level growth.

Based on the success of the strategic development zone, SDZ, model in Adamstown in south County Dublin, the county council believes the SDZ mechanism provides the best solution to meeting the challenges in delivering the major servicing infrastructure and creating a sustainable, integrated and well-planned neighbourhood. Experience of the Adamstown SDZ has shown that this designation has proved very advantageous in creating an agreed planning context for development, a certainty and clarity of approach to development, in fostering co-operation between landowners and securing more "buy-in" from public sector agencies such as the Department of Education and Science and Iarnród Éireann. The phasing of the provision of both "hard" and "soft" infrastructure with the completion of new housing have demonstrated best practice which is being emulated elsewhere

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has had ongoing contacts with the county council on the planning strategy for the Cherrywood area. A formal proposal has been submitted to the Department by the council for the designation of the area as a strategic development zone under Part IX of the 2000 Planning and Development Act. The request is under consideration and a decision on the matter is expected shortly.

Senator Shane Ross

I thank the Minister of State for his reply which I regard as unsatisfactory because it does not give any indication of when a decision will be made. Perhaps he can indicate when a decision will be made and what way the Minister is leaning in that regard. If it is true that a decision of this type can be made, no third party objections can be considered and any development the county council wishes to provide for in this area is eligible. In other words, it can do what it likes without anybody having his or her objections sustained or even considered.

Deputy Barry Andrews

I cannot speak for the Minister about what his view is as regards objections. However, if it is accepted by the county council, the matter will be considered in the same manner as it was dealt with in the case of Adamstown. I must point out to the Senator that Dún Laoghaire is the one part of Ireland that did not experience a population increase in the last ten years. In fact, the population has decreased which caused a reduction in the number of seats in my constituency from five to four, with very harrowing consequences of a personal nature that I do not have to outline. The point is Cherrywood is a place we want to see developed. While I accept as right and proper the Senator's concerns about the need to ensure there is proper consultation with and input from those affected by the development, it is of such major significance in terms of the potential for growth in the area that designation of a strategic zone would be appropriate. However, I will convey the Senator's concerns to the Minister.

Senator Shane Ross

Does it mean no third party objections will be considered?

Deputy Barry Andrews

I shall clarify that point for the Senator directly with the Minister.