The City Edge Project is a joint initiative between South Dublin County Council and Dublin City Council to create a new liveable, sustainable and climate resilient urban quarter at the western edge of Dublin City.
Background
Identified within the National Planning Framework the project area covers 700 hectares within the Naas Road, Ballymount and Park West areas and has the potential for 40,000 new homes and 75,000 jobs making it one of
the largest regeneration opportunities in Europe.
The City Edge area is strategically positioned to become an attractive urban extension of the city, where people will be able to live, work and socialise.
Regeneration of the area will support the delivery of new homes, help Dublin become a climate resilient city, accommodate the next generation of employment and provide liveable spaces that connect seamlessly with the
surrounding neighbourhoods.
The City Edge Strategic Framework
A non-statutory Strategic Framework has been prepared and provides a high-level strategy for the regeneration of these lands to 2070 including an overarching vision, strategic objectives and a spatial framework. The document also includes a plan for the delivery of key infrastructure including streets, parks, public transport and utilities. The area is divided into five districts with indicative layouts, envisioning the likely growth of the districts over time, and identifying and sequencing strategic infrastructure requirements. The Framework will be followed by a Statutory Plan in 2022/2023.
Public Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement
Comprehensive public consultation took place as part of preparing the Strategic Framework and further consultation will support the preparation of the Statutory Plan. This will include further engagement with the local community, businesses and landowners living and working within and around the City Edge Project area.
The City Edge Vision
The regeneration of City Edge is based on the 15-minute city principles and will comprise mixed use areas with residential, employment, community and retail uses and high quality integrated green spaces. Development will be compact and higher density with communities focused on public transport, walking and cycling.
The Strategic Framework identifies several key infrastructure projects that are required to support delivery of a liveable City Edge vision. These include re-naturalisation of the River Camac, enhancement of the Grand Canal and the creation of two new linear parks along these waterways, this in addition to upgrading two existing parks at Lansdowne Valley Park and Walkinstown Park. The provision and enhancement of these parks will help achieve the ambitious target of 50% green cover within the City Edge area, with the aim of providing amenity and recreation opportunities, while also promoting biodiversity and climate resilience.
Key public transport and active travel projects include a new Luas stop on the Naas Road and a new railway station and interchange at Kylemore on the Kildare line, while orbital public transport routes introducing north/south connectivity are proposed. A network of active travel routes including a new greenway linking Tymon Park and Phoenix Park is proposed, along with smaller greenways along the M50 and railway corridor.
The areas utility network needs significant upgrade to accommodate the scale and type of development proposed, including a new foul system and the undergrounding of overhead electricity lines to release more developable land and create a better setting are proposed.
Delivering City Edge
Delivery of a regeneration project at the scale of City Edge over a long time horizon presents major opportunities and challenges. A key role of the strategic Framework is to build confidence in the process of place making
that will in turn attract both the public and private investment that is much needed. With this in mind the Strategic Framework has a particular focus on delivery.
City Edge is a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a new urban quarter fit for the future.
To achieve this long term vision a huge amount of coordination and patient commitment will be needed. The framework includes a set of priority actions around legislation, policy, funding and infrastructure delivery. Most important in the coming years will be obtaining the support of central Government departments and State agencies to ensure the alignment of priorities to enable the delivery of the key infrastructure required. Both South Dublin and Dublin City are committed to driving forward this regeneration programme.
City Edge is a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a new urban quarter fit for the future. It is a unique opportunity to achieve Government policies of compact growth, transport-oriented development and climate resilience, at scale, and a chance to make a significant contribution to resolving the housing crisis while also generating substantial employment
opportunities.
For more see cityedge.ie
Director of Land Use, Planning and Transportation in South Dublin County Council
