City Edge Project gets mixed response and 106 submissions
ONE HUNDRED AND SIX submissions were received during the public consultation stage of the City Edge Project, which raised concerns on issues including transport, employment and housing.
As previously reported in The Echo, the City Edge development is set to become one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects, with the future potential to accommodate up to 75,000 jobs and 40,000 homes.
The project, which is a 30-plus year plan, focuses on 700 hectares of land in the Naas Road, Ballymount and Park West areas, on the western edge of Dublin city centre. When City Edge was first announced, it was met with a mixed response by the public, with many questioning the feasibility and logistics of the large-scale project.
The public consultation phase of the project took place from September 9 to October 6 to inform the preparation of the draft Strategic Framework. A total of 106 submissions were received through the online portal and by post.
According to the Chief Executive’s report on the submissions received, the themes that were raised most frequently related to movement and transport, which was raised 43 times. The second most frequent theme raised related to economy and employment, which was 27 times and the third was related to the liveable city and sustainability, which came up in 21 submissions.
Other themes that featured prominently related to Housing, Community, Sports and Cultural Amenities and Natural Infrastructure & Camac Flood Alleviation.
One feature of the project is that it aims to focus on the 15-minute city concept, where residents can meet most of their needs within a short walk or bike ride from their homes.
In the submissions that were related to transport and movement, some submissions raised concern in relation to the extent of traffic in the area, capacity of existing public transport and the potential for further development to aggravate this.
In response to the concerns, the chief executive stated: “As a response to this, the Emerging Preferred Scenario seeks to capitalise on existing transport infrastructure in the area in the form of the Dublin to Cork/Kildare railway line, the Luas Red Line, the Grand Canal Greenway and the impending plans for Bus Connects Corridors.”
It was added that the “holistic approach” of the emerging preferred scenario seeks to improve services, street design and modal choice in favour of public transport and active travel, which will also be strengthened by the National Transport Authorities’ Draft Greater Area Transport Strategy 2022-2024 which includes additional transport infrastructure which will serve the City Edge lands.
In response to the submissions raised regarding economy and employment, the chief executive commented: “The many submissions that raised issues in relation to economy and employment are acknowledged. Concerns raised included the decline of some neighbourhoods and the lack of facilities for workers in industrial estates.
“Several submissions mentioned the need for sites for businesses to relocate to and for transition to happen incrementally. The need for consultation with landowners and the application of the ‘just transition’ principle was also highlighted.
“The concept of mixed-use development where employment and residential uses co-exist was both emphasised as a positive while also cautioned in terms of residential amenity impacts and constraints on business operators. Concern were expressed regarding the future for existing businesses in addition to the environmental impact of regeneration on existing operations in the area and the support needed for their continued growth.”
The outcome of all aspects of the public consultation will be considered and will inform the preparation of the final Strategic Framework. In early 2022, the City Edge Strategic Framework will be complete and during next year the councils will progress a statutory plan for the City Edge lands.
