Racecourse land to deliver 800 homes in south Dublin 

A major new housing development is on the cards for the Southside, as Horse Racing Ireland has agreed to transfer 17 acres of land at Leopardstown Racecourse to the Land Development Agency, paving the way for more than 800 new homes beside a soon-to-be-activated Luas stop. 

The deal marks a significant moment in State efforts to unlock public land for housing, with construction at the Leopardstown site expected to begin once planning approval is secured. 

Design and planning work for the project will start immediately, with both agencies working alongside Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on a masterplan that balances the delivery of affordable housing with the continued development of one of Ireland’s premier racing venues. 

The planned homes will be A-rated and built beside the currently unused Luas stop at Leopardstown, which will now be activated as part of the scheme. 

The site is well connected by public transport, adjacent to the M50 and the Green Luas line, and surrounded by amenities — a key consideration in fast-tracking new housing in the capital. 

The land transfer follows what both bodies described as “positive engagement” aimed at ensuring the best possible outcome for housing delivery while protecting the integrity of Leopardstown’s racing and event operations. 

“This is about unlocking the potential of State-owned land to provide homes where they’re badly needed,” said John Coleman, CEO of the Land Development Agency.

“It’s a win-win — new homes for families and support for the ongoing development of one of Ireland’s most important sporting venues.” 

Coleman added that the Leopardstown project is part of a wider effort by the LDA to accelerate housing construction on public land.

“We are now under construction on 16 sites for over 5,000 homes across the country,” he said, “and we’re gearing up to add more. Collaboration like this is key.” 

Horse Racing Ireland will retain ownership of the wider Leopardstown campus and plans to invest in developing its world-class racing and non-racing facilities.

Suzanne Eade, CEO of HRI, said the agreement struck the right balance between addressing Ireland’s housing needs and ensuring the long-term viability of the racing industry. 

“This land transfer will allow for the development of a significant number of much-needed homes, while also safeguarding our plans for Leopardstown,” said Eade. “We’re proud to support the creation of a sustainable, mixed-use neighbourhood that will benefit the greater Dublin area.” 

Government figures welcomed the move as an example of how cross-agency cooperation can help tackle the housing crisis.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “delighted to see these lands being made available to support the delivery of homes at scale,” praising HRI for its contribution. 

“This is exactly the type of collaborative approach we need to see more of, where State bodies come together to unlock land and deliver for the public good,” he said. 

Minister for Housing James Browne called it “a positive development” that would have a lasting impact, and encouraged other State agencies to examine their own land holdings.

“The LDA has shown it can deliver quickly and to a high standard,” he said. “But it needs access to land like this to keep doing so.” 

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon noted the deal would allow for further investment in the horse racing industry, which contributes more than €2.4 billion annually to the Irish economy. 

With housing pressures continuing to dominate political and social discourse, the Leopardstown development offers a rare bright spot, a major housing project, fully State-led, with critical transport links already in place.

The next step will be securing planning permission and finalising the masterplan, but for once, the finish line doesn’t seem quite so far away.