LDA acquires site in Cherrywood, Dublin 18 with the potential for over 350 homes

The Land Development Agency (LDA) has announced the acquisition of a significant greenfield site in Cherrywood, Dublin 18. The 4.73-hectare (11.74-acre) site purchased by the LDA has the potential to deliver over 350 new homes along with associated amenities and facilities.

The land is well-located in an area already undergoing significant development and is well-serviced by existing facilities and amenities with more due to be developed.

It is located next to another development site, which was acquired by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLR) in 2024. When combined, both sites have the potential to jointly deliver more than 700 homes over the coming years.

Design and planning work will begin immediately, and subject to planning permission and required enabling infrastructure delivery, construction could begin in 2028.

The LDA site was acquired from a private seller 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 land and Local Authority partnership sites.

To date, the Agency’s acquisitions include land in Clongriffin and Baldoyle in north Dublin as well as the Royal Liver site on the Naas Road in Dublin 12. These sites, together with the new Cherrywood site, have the potential to deliver almost 6,500 homes.

The Cherrywood area has been undergoing significant redevelopment in recent years with the construction of new housing and apartment schemes, retail and commercial blocks, as well as parks and amenities including Tully Park, Beckett Park and Ticknock Park.

These amenities are complemented by strong public transport and road links into Dublin city centre, as well as nearby key destinations such as the Sandyford Business District, Dundrum Town Centre, University College Dublin (UCD), St. Columcille’s Hospital, the Beacon Hospital, and Cherrywood Business Park.

The Lehaunstown Green Luas stop is conveniently located just 150 meters from the site, providing rail transport access to Dublin City Centre and northwards to TUD Grangegorman/ Broombridge, Cabra.

This site is also very close to the M50 motorway and Leopardstown Racecourse where an agreement was recently announced between the LDA and Horse Racing Ireland which will provide for the future development of approximately 800 homes, while facilitating the further development of the racecourse and its facilities.

The planned Leopardstown development will activate the existing, but unused, Leopardstown Luas stop which is 1.5km from the acquired Cherrywood site.

John Coleman, Chief Executive of the Land Development Agency said:

“The acquisition of this land demonstrates the LDA’s ambition to deliver high quality, well designed new homes next to key amenities and transport hubs, in line with our recent acquisitions in Clongriffin, Baldoyle and at the Royal Liver site on the Naas road in Dublin 12.

“This Cherrywood site is next to land owned by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, providing an ideal opportunity for two state bodies to collaborate to deliver affordable and social homes. This acquisition will allow the LDA and DLR to deliver approximately 700 homes within walking distance of light rail stations, as well as significantly enhancing the local road network. We look forward to consulting with the local community and key stakeholders to design and develop a new neighbourhood.”

Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said:

“This acquisition represents a significant and welcome opportunity to deliver much-needed affordable and social housing across two strategically located sites in Cherrywood. We are pleased to note that the lands acquired are adjacent to those we have recently secured for residential development and a greenway. We look forward to engaging collaboratively with the LDA in the planning and delivery of housing on the respective sites.”