Minister marks opening of first section of Stage 1B South Link Street at Clonburris

The Minister for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage marked a significant milestone in the delivery of the Clonburris Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) with the official ribbon cutting of the first completed section of Stage 1B of the South Link Street on Wednesday, 29th of April.

The event was attended by representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage including Minister James Browne, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) Team, the Mayor of South Dublin, Cllr. Pamela Kearns, SDCC Director of Services for Planning and Transport Eoin Burke and the SDCC Planning and Delivery Team, Design Teams, Project Managers, private landowners and the main contractor Clonmel.

Located less than 15 minutes by rail from Dublin City Centre, Clonburris is one of the largest regeneration and housing opportunities in the country. The area has the capacity to deliver approximately 9,500 new homes, alongside 90 hectares of parks, schools, community facilities and high-quality public realm, supporting a future population of over 23,000 people.

Clonburris represents a flagship example of compact, sustainable development aligned with the National Planning Framework (First Revision 2025) and the Government’s national housing strategy, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030: An Action Plan on Housing Supply and Targeting Homelessness. The project supports delivery targets set out in SDCC’s Housing Delivery Action Plan 2022–2026, demonstrating how coordinated national investment can accelerate housing delivery in strategic, well-connected locations.

Significant Government investment has supported the delivery of enabling infrastructure at Clonburris. At programme level, €186.3 million has been allocated under the URDF, alongside €18.8 million in funding from the National Transport Authority (NTA) for Active Travel and associated works. The South Link Street project itself is supported by approximately €55.7 million in URDF funding, €8.2 million in NTA funding and €23.5 million in private sector investment.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, commented:

“Today marks an important step in opening up the Clonburris SDZ for new homes and new communities. Delivering housing at scale requires more than plans, it requires infrastructure on the ground. The South Link Street project demonstrates exactly that: opening up land for development while putting in place the roads, drainage, bridges, public spaces and parks needed to support compact, sustainable growth. It is a key part of turning housing ambition into reality.”

As of Q4 2025, substantial progress has been made in housing delivery across the Clonburris SDZ, with 4,231 homes granted planning permission, 3,106 homes under construction and 1,419 homes completed, of which 1,014 are already occupied. The development includes a mix of social, affordable, cost rental and private housing.

The South Link Street is a key piece of infrastructure, comprising approximately 4km of new east–west roadway, including junction upgrades, drainage, water services, landscaping and parkland. It is a critical element in unlocking lands for housing delivery across the SDZ.

The event marked the opening of the first completed section of Stage 1B of the South Link Street, building on the earlier delivery of Stage 1A, which is already operational.

Further sections of Stage 1B will open on a phased and incremental basis over the coming years, aligned with adjacent housing delivery and the reduction of construction activity. This approach ensures that the infrastructure can be brought into use safely while supporting the continued development of the wider Clonburris area.

The project highlights the strong collaboration between SDCC, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the National Transport Authority, Clonburris Infrastructure Ltd and key landowners including Cairn Homes, Kelland Homes and Evara.

Mayor of South Dublin, Cllr. Pamela Kearns concluded; “Today’s opening marks a major step forward for the people of South Dublin and for the future community of Clonburris. This new section of the South Link Street will make a real difference to residents — improving connections, safety and accessibility, and ensuring that families can move into well-serviced homes in a vibrant, growing neighbourhood."

"Investing in infrastructure like this is investing in our citizens. It means better transport links, more opportunities for local businesses, and the creation of strong, sustainable communities where people can live, work and thrive for generations to come.”

Today’s milestone represents a significant step forward in the transformation of Clonburris into a vibrant, well-connected and sustainable new community. Continued investment in infrastructure will support the ongoing delivery of housing and community amenities in the years ahead.