Newlands Farm site should be taken into public ownership
LANDS between Tallaght and Clondalkin, which are the site of a proposed residential development called Newlands Farm, should be taken into public ownership, according to a local councillor.
The subject site is located at Gateway and Newlands Cross, and developer Hibernia REIT’s plans for the site include a residential development of approximately 3,500 units, sports facilities and a community centre.
An Rabharta Glas – Green Left councillor Liam Sinclair tabled a motion at Monday’s monthly meeting of the Tallaght Area Committee, calling on the council to take ownership of the site.
Cllr Sinclair told The Echo: “I tabled the motion to highlight what happened with the County Development Plan and how this isn’t the end of the conversation – while that land remains in the ownership of a private developer, it’s going to keep coming up at every County Development Plan.
“I wanted to make the point that this conversation isn’t over until that piece of land belongs to the State and is developed as a park.”
Last June, Hibernia announced plans for the development of a ‘green corridor’ as part of Newlands Farm, including identifying key habitats and trees.
These key features will be supplemented with “extensive planting and provision of additional wetland areas to secure connectivity in the landscape and allow wildlife to safely commute in an urban environment”, according to Hibernia.
However, Cllr Sinclair said he believes the entire site should be maintained as a green space and be developed into a park, due to its location as a buffer between two densely populated areas and busy roads.
Hibernia’s plans for Newlands Farm
“It’s just really important, where it’s located,” he explained. “It’s between two of the most densely populated areas in the county, and is crisscrossed by two of the busiest roads in the country.
“It would be best served as public land, because then we could plant trees there and open it up.
“We can benefit the environment and scrub away a lot of the pollution that’s generated in the area. Green infrastructure is badly needed, and that site is perfectly situated to be managed as such.”
In response to Cllr Sinclair’s motion, South Dublin County Council confirmed that the lands are in private ownership, and added that the Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development Department “have no plans for acquisition of lands at this location”.
