Revealed: An ‘exciting’ new community for the Southside

Dublin People 04 Dec 2015
Revealed: An ‘exciting’ new community for the Southside

MORE than 30,000 residents are expected to eventually live and work in the new town of Cherrywood it was revealed last week, as plans for a major development on the Southside were unveiled.

Hines Ireland has submitted a planning application for a major road network investment that will mark the first phase of the development of a new town centre and upgraded Business Park at the Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone (SDZ).

This first stage will create 150 new construction jobs when work begins next year.

Planning permission is being sought for 5.4km of new roads while additional applications for three large parks serving the new Cherrywood town are to be submitted in the coming weeks.

The park facilities will cover a total of 57 acres at three separate locations in Cherrywood. Ticknick Park will be the largest and will include four full size multi-code playing pitches; Tully Park at 22 acres will be located close to the planned town centre and will be equivalent in size to St Stephen’s Green; while Beckett Park (13 acres) will be located at the north western end of the SDZ development and will be similar in size to Dublin’s Merrion Square. 

When completed, Ticknick, Tully and Beckett parks will be key recreational and environmental amenities for the expected population of 30,000 residents who will eventually live and work in the new town of Cherrywood. 

The applications also propose the building of pedestrian footpaths, cycle paths and greenways and the planting of over 3,000 mature trees including oak and cherry varieties, which will make for a well established landscape prior to people moving into the area.

Tenders are underway with contractors to commence the multi-million euro  roads and parks construction project in spring 2016. 

The development of Cherrywood’s large amenity zones, as well as roads, pavement and cycleway infrastructure, is also tied to an overall aim to expedite the delivery of the 3,800 houses and apartments contained within the Hines land holdings.  

A detailed planning application for the town centre, including retail areas, cinema, other leisure uses, restaurants and the initial 1,400 apartments, will be submitted in mid-2016. It is expected that construction on these will commence towards the end of next year.

Brian Moran, senior managing director of Hines Ireland, said the application was an exciting step forward for a “landmark development”.

“This signals our ambition to create a very high quality, amenity-led environment for the residents of Cherrywood,” he said. “These applications have taken into account the valuable feedback from the public at our open days held in May.

“The investment in three major landscaped parks, spanning 57 acres, with playing fields and sports facilities, will make this an unrivalled location for new families on the Southside.

“The excellent transport network at Cherrywood, with four stops on the Luas Green Line and direct access to the country’s motorway and national road network make it an unrivalled place to be for both office and retail occupiers, in addition to residents.

“We are acutely aware of the enormous public demand for new housing stock particularly in the Greater Dublin Area and we are working closely with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to speed up the delivery of the housing and accommodation elements of the Cherrywood project.”

Mr Moran added: “Our planning work is continuing apace on all fronts – town centre, residential, retail and office space.

“We will continue to share and consult with the local community about our exciting and ambitious vision for the new Cherrywood, including the retail and amenity-led town centre, for which a planning application will be submitted in mid-2016.”

Last week’s submission will be the first in a series of planning applications by Hines in the coming months for the 400-acre Cherrywood site acquired in November 2014 with SDZ approval for the construction of a new retail-led mixed use town centre; up to 3,800 apartments and houses; and zoning capacity to upgrade the second largest office park in Dublin.

Cllr Carrie Smyth (Lab) said the proposed planning applications by Hines for the new Cherrywood Town Centre are a significant development for the area.

“Cherrywood is the single largest undeveloped land bank in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown,” Cllr Smyth said.

“Its potential as an exciting new community was recognised by the Government in 2010 when it was designated a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ).

“The planned development by Hines Ireland would be a major boost for jobs in the area, initially in construction and later in the various services to support the expected 30,000 residents. 

“It is clear that consideration has been given to the transport and recreational needs of future residents with the inclusion of pedestrian footpaths, cycle paths and greenways and over 57 acres of park facilities.”

Cllr Smyth added: “I strongly encourage residents, local groups and business owners to make time to examine the plans for the proposed development, once they have been submitted. It is vital that any development at this unique location is supported by the local communities and stakeholders who must have a say on its future.”

 

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