LDA acquires site in Dublin with the potential for 600 homes

The Land Development Agency (LDA) has announced the acquisition of a significant urban regeneration site in Jamestown Industrial Estate in Finglas, Dublin 11.

The site is located off the N2, close to the M50, and directly opposite the planned new Finglas Green LUAS extension from Broombridge to Charlestown. Charlestown Shopping Centre is located 1.5km north of the site.

Subject to planning permission, the 3.885-hectare (9.6-acre) site has the potential to deliver approximately 600 new homes along with associated commercial uses and community facilities.

The site was acquired as part of the LDA’s private site acquisition initiative, which was announced in August 2023. As part of this initiative, the LDA is targeting the purchase of privately-owned sites with significant housing potential to add to its landbank of State-owned and local authority partnership sites.

To date, the Agency has purchased nine significant privately-owned land banks including Clongriffin and Baldoyle in north Dublin, the Royal Liver site on the Naas Road, land at Cookstown in Tallaght, a site at Cherrywood, strategic lands at Swords and a major housing development site at Celbridge.

All of the sites acquired to date are well served by public transport including the Dart, the Red & Green LUAS lines and the future Metrolink. The latest acquisition at Jamestown, Dublin 11, means the LDA could deliver over 13,000 new homes in Dublin from privately acquired sites.

John Coleman, Chief Executive of the Land Development Agency said: “We are pleased to announce this latest land purchase. Our private land acquisition initiative allows us to identify and acquire high potential sites with an emphasis on regeneration and unlocking underutilised land for the provision of affordable housing. Through transfers of State-owned land, partnerships with local authorities and through our own land acquisitions, the LDA has a strong development pipeline and is accelerating delivery.

“Jamestown is a fast-developing and well-located area of Dublin with a pressing housing need. We will now seek to consult widely with the local community in Jamestown, Charlestown and Finglas and work closely with Dublin City Council to progress this site to construction.”

The Jamestown Industrial Estate site is zoned Objective Z14, under the Dublin City Development Plan 2022 – 2028, designating it for mixed use to enable regeneration and / or the development of the area.

Following adoption of a Masterplan, a clear framework is now in place for the proposed residential-led regeneration of this area. The vendor will continue to occupy the property on an agreed short-term lease basis following this acquisition. However, LDA design and planning work will commence immediately to facilitate the redevelopment of this largescale site.

The location is close to a high number of major employment centres as well as Dublin Airport, Connolly and Cappagh hospitals. Given its strategic location and excellent access to key infrastructure, the site is ideally positioned to accommodate high-quality residential development. It also offers a unique opportunity to advance the ongoing regeneration of the Jamestown Masterplan area which could accommodate up to 3,500 new homes if fully realised.

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