Variation No. 2

National Planning Framework - First Revision

SDCC intends to propose a variation to the County Development Plan arising from the adoption of the National Planning Framework - First Revision (‘the NPF’) in April 2025 by Government and both houses of the Oireachtas and pursuant to ‘NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ (‘the Guidelines’) issued by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended).

The Guidelines translate the NPF’s national housing growth requirements for implementation at a local level to 2040 and require, inter alia, local authorities to review development plans and to initiate variations to development plans where necessary to reflect the requirements of the Guidelines. In summary, SDCC’s “Annual New Housing Growth Requirement” is 3,270 new homes per annum up to 2034 and 2,414 new homes per annum thereafter to 2040.

Settlement Capacity Audit

SDCC carried out a settlement capacity audit of the County’s current residential/mixed-use zoned lands and the outcome of this was presented in a Chief Executive’s Report and briefing to elected members in October. The Report summarised the development capacity of existing zoned lands and forecast deliverability of such lands in terms of, inter alia, serviced and planning status. The means by which it is proposed to secure the objectives of the Guidelines and the next steps were set out in the form of recommendations from the Chief Executive. The Report is available via the link on this page.

Non-Statutory Consultation

Arising from the need to identify additional lands for housing in the short-term and up to 2040 and to supplement the Council’s own analysis, SDCC ran a non-statutory consultation in October-November 2025 seeking proposals for lands which meet certain criteria for suitability and deliverability. This process and submissions received can be viewed at: https://consult.sdublincoco.ie/en/consultation/npf-implementation-housing-growth-requirements-guidelines-planning-authorities-2025-non-statutory.

Variation

SDCC is currently progressing its assessment of lands and intends to bring forward a proposed variation to the County Development Plan in early 2026. This variation will primarily seek to address the recommendations outlined in the Chief Executive’s Report of October 2025 by proposing the re-zoning of lands for residential purposes, associated policy measures and other updates to ensure the County Development Plan is aligned with national policies and guidelines.

Timeline

April 2025 – National Planning Framework - First Revision
July 2025 – NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements Guidelines for Planning Authorities
October 2025 – Report (Settlement Capacity Audit) to Elected Members
October-November 2025 – Non-Statutory consultation
January/February 2026 – Publication of proposed variation to the County Development Plan for public consultation and commencement of statutory variation process