Plans to solve the housing crisis in Kildare are 'not sustainable'

Plans to provide thousands of homes in County Kildare to address the  housing crisis are “unsustainable.”

The Land Development Agency is now the principal provider of social and affordable housing in the country.

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It has ambitious plans to create residential property in a number of areas.

Earlier this month it announced it had acquired a significant greenfield site near Hazelhatch and Celbridge train station from the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA).

The 84 acre site is zoned for new residential purposes under the Celbridge Local Area Plan 2017–2023.

The site, which the LDA said will deliver almost 1,000 new homes, benefits from excellent public transport connectivity.

Existing bus stops are located on the Dublin Road, Shinkeen Road and within walking distance of Primrose Hill and Celbridge town centre.

The Hazelhatch & Celbridge train station is approximately 1.9km from the site withfrequent commuter and intercity rail services, connecting to Dublin Heuston and cities including Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford. Road connectivity is also strong, with proximity to the M4 motorway providing direct links to Dublin and regional towns including Maynooth, Kilcock, and Enfield.

The area is already well-served by a range of social and community amenities, including Celbridge Primary Care Centre, St. Wolstan’s Shopping Centre, and a wide selection of primary and secondary schools. The location’s proximity to key employment centres further supports its suitability for residential development.

In Newbridge, a three acre site located between Whitewater Shopping Centre and Newbridge Silverware in Newbridge is being proposed for potential redevelopment by the LDA.

According to the LDA, the Newbridge site - currently used by Kildare County Council as a machinery yard - has a potential yield of 90–120 homes which would cost up to €38m to develop fully.

The LDA believes the site could significantly contribute to addressing regional housing needs, despite not being currently included in the formal housing strategy.

The area is zoned as “A - Town Centre,” which deems it suitable for high-density residential or mixed-use development.

The LDA said that estimated development costs range from €22 million to €30.5 million, with additional infrastructure and other costs potentially bringing the total to between €28.6 million and €38 million.

The existing local authority depot would need to be relocated for the project to proceed.

Meanwhile another site in Co Kildare has also been identified for potential housing.

The 25.5 acre site on Hospital Street, Kildare town, between the primary care centre and the M7, could deliver 170–240 homes, according to the state agency. 

Owned by the HSE and Kildare County Council, the land requires rezoning and re-allocation of public use to proceed.

Estimated costs of developing the site range from €76 million to €92 million, according to the LDA.

The development would allow for future HSE expansion while addressing regional housing demand.

As the Government's push for more homes to be built continues, Minister for Housing James Browne has already instructed local authorities to revisit their development plans to rezone significantly more land for homes.

The LDA is required to submit a report every two years on public land that is potentially suitable for housing in towns with a population of over 10,000.

John Coleman, Chief Executive of the Land Development Agency said: "Kildare and the greater Dublin area is a fast-developing and strategically important region with a pressing housing need and we are delighted to acquire these important sites for the delivery of much needed new homes."

Local councillors have been briefed by Kildare County Council on embryonic plans to develop up to 3,400 units - apartments and houses - within the so-called North-West Quadrant (NWQ).

The NWQ refers to a massive landbank which lies roughly between the Grand Canal Harbour in the town and the M7 motorway.

The housing units are being proposed for an area roughly between Finlay Park and Tandy Bridge, out towards Millennium Park.

But Cllr Bill Clear said the proposals are unrealistic because of a shortage of school places that has not been addressed. He also said that the GP medical services are under pressure and there is a shortage of creche places.

He said the LDA is not talking to the Department of Education about the plans for new homes and whether the schools can cope.

“We are in a housing crisis but the schools cannot cope with this. Many families now come into an area with children, rather than as couples hoping to start a family and this is adding to the pressure.

“The population is increasing across Kildare very very fast. The doctors surgeries are full and the primary schools are full”

Cllr Clear also criticised the Department of Education’s policy of limiting the capacity of new school builds to that of the existing school.

“We not only need new schools but we need bigger schools to cater for the numbers.They should be at least 50% bigger,” he said.

Cllr Clear also criticised the policy of approving "small and expensive” creches in new housing estates.

He said creches are full to capacity and many have waiting lists. He called for the construction of larger community-based creches. “The current idea of coming up with creche places is just not working,” he added.