Stepaside identified as area to be developed under housing guidelines

The village of Stepaside, Co Dublin, is to become the State's first area to be developed under the Government's new guidelines on housing density.

Included in the plan, according to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, are "a move away from the sterile single-house type developments", an area for local enterprises, provision for a possible extension of the Luas system and a feeder bus to the "quality bus corridor", a historic protection area, and the development of a "greenway spine".

The village, in the foothills of the Dublin mountains, was identified in last year's County Development Plan for major expansion with the rezoning of 200 acres for housing.

The county council has now come up with an action plan which covers an area from the Enniskerry Road in the south to Ballyogan Road in the north and covers a total area, including the old village and land already zoned for housing and business options, of around 800 acres. Leopardstown valley has been identified as the core commercial/ recreational centre with "small organic" growth at Lambs Cross and Stepaside.

The plan is on display at council offices in Dundrum and Dun Laoghaire until April 16th.

According to Mr Dave Irvine, county council executive planner, the plan area covers the expanding residential estates off Ballyogan Road and Kilgobbin Road, in addition to the undeveloped land to the north of the Enniskerry Road.

The plan has been drawn up with reference to the Dublin Transportation Initiative strategy and the Government's draft guidelines on residential density.

Its main features are:

The provision of a green spine along the valley of the Ballyogan stream. This landscaped open space would facilitate access to commercial and leisure facilities by foot and by bicycle.

A move away from single-house type development which dominates the existing suburbs, a mix of density, unit sizes and uses within 30 development parcels.

In response to the "proximity principle", commuter patterns are to be influenced by the creation of local employment centres.

Increased priority is to be given to public transport, including a possible extension of Luas, a feeder bus to Luas in the first instance, and a feeder bus to the proposed quality bus corridor on the Stillorgan Road.

The plan acknowledges the core historic area around Kilgobbin village and seeks to afford it "additional protection".

Over the coming weeks the council will meet land-owners, community representatives and developers in the area to discuss the implications of the plan.