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New Urban Communities


The Planning and Development Act 2024 introduces new ideas to speed up housing delivery and make it easier to plan communities.

Urban Development Zones (UDZs)

  • These are special areas chosen for large-scale housing.
  • They’ll be near towns, cities, and good public transport.
  • The goal is to plan these areas properly from the start, so homes, roads, and services are ready together.
  • Local councils are already looking for suitable sites.
  • The Government will fund key infrastructure (like roads and utilities) to get building started quickly.

Transport-Oriented Development (TOD)

  • This means building new communities close to high-quality public transport.
  • It’s about making it easy to live, work, and access services without needing a car.
  • A working group has already looked at opportunities in Dublin, and more reports for Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, and the Mid-East are coming soon.

Masterplanning Future Growth

  • To meet housing targets, we need to plan ahead for big growth areas.
  • This includes identifying what infrastructure (roads, schools, utilities) is needed early on.
  • Successful examples like Adamstown and Clonburris show what’s possible—but we need to move faster.

New Urban Communities Taskforce

  • The Government is setting up a Taskforce with local councils, the Land Development Agency, and other key bodies.
  • Its job is to pick the best places for large-scale housing and make sure infrastructure is ready.
  • These areas will be carefully assessed and masterplanned before building starts.

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