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

Variation No. 2 to the County Development Plan 2022-2028 was placed on public display for a period of 4 weeks commencing on the 13th February to 13th March 2026. At the end of the display period a total of 2678 no. submissions had been received in response to that public consultation process.

A Chief Executive’s Report on the submissions received, was issued to the Elected Members for their consideration as part of the statutory planning process. The Chief Executive's Report is available below.

Following the Special Council meetings on the 19th and 24th June 2026, and having considered the Proposed Variation No. 2 to the County Development Plan 2022-2028 and the Chief Executive's Report in respect of submissions / observations received, the Elected Members of South Dublin County Council have resolved in accordance with Section 58(13)(a)(ii)of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (as amended), that South Dublin County Council, proposes to make material alterations to Variation No. 2 to the County Development Plan 2022-2028.

The proposed Material Alterations to Proposed Variation No. 2 and accompanying documents are currently on display and this is available at: https://consult.sdublincoco.ie/en/consultation/proposed-material-alterations-proposed-variation-no-2-south-dublin-county-development-plan-2022-2028. Written submissions or observations may be made between Tuesday 7th July 2026 to Wednesday 5th August 2026 (inclusive).

A copy of the proposed Material Alterations to Proposed Variation No. 2 and accompanying documents are also available on this website by clicking on the ‘Proposed Material Alterations’ link below.

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
February 2026 – Publication of proposed variation to the County Development Plan for public consultation and commencement of statutory variation process
June 2026 - A Special Meeting of South Dublin County Council
July-August 2026 – Material Alterations public consultation