The Land Development Agency and Horse Racing Ireland have reached an agreement to transfer the land to the south of Leopardstown Racecourse for the LDA to develop as new social and affordable housing (RTÉ story here). This land is between Leopardstown and Carrickmines in what has been used as an overflow car park for the racecourse. Good news that finally after over 3 years of trying to get these lands transferred from Horse Racing Ireland, the LDA will now be able to get started on planning much-needed housing on this site. Let’s hope there are no further undue delays.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have an ambitious Local Transport Plan for the site to ensure a sustainable community is developed here but no commitments from central government to provide the necessary funding. We need commitments from central government that they will forward-fund the necessary local infrastructure and services that the thousands of new residents will need.
This means increasing Luas services, safe walking and cycling bridges over the M50, new local schools and more. We also need more urgency from Horse Racing Ireland in opening up the existing M50 overbridge to connect people in Ballyogan and the Gallops across the motorway by foot or bike.
Glencullen-Sandyford, where these lands are located, has already seen the highest number of new homes built of anywhere in the State from 2016-2024 with the very little government support for infrastructure to meet the needs of our growing population.
