South Dublin County Council aims to transform a 630-acre swathe of undeveloped land between Lucan and Clondalkin into an "eco-district".
The 412.965-hectare area is to have up to 16,000 new homes and a full range of accessible community facilities.
Its master plan for Clonburris, most of which was designated as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) in 2006, includes a "sustainability toolkit" laying down standards that all new development in the area must meet.
In a separate local area plan for Quarryvale, the council foresees development of the area surrounding the Liffey Valley shopping centre to provide "a high-quality mixed-use urban centre based on upgraded public transport and urban design".
This is in line with the council's decision in December 2004 that Liffey Valley would be developed as the "town centre" for Lucan/Clondalkin, reversing a 30-year-old planning policy that this should be located at the more central Clonburris site.
A 250,000 sq ft (23,225 sq m) "cap" on the retail space at Liffey Valley - imposed when Quarryvale was rezoned in controversial circumstances in 1992 - has now been lifted and the latest plan envisages a major expansion of the shopping centre.
This will benefit the owners, Barkhill Ltd, a company jointly controlled by Cork-based developer Owen O'Callaghan and Grosvenor Estates, owned by the Duke of Westminster, as it will permit them to add supermarkets and more shops to Liffey Valley.
The council says that the plan incorporates "a range of people-intensive land uses, including retail, commercial, residential, recreational, community and cultural activities . . . through the provision of innovative buildings and a network of urban squares and streets".
According to its master plan, most of the surface car parking on the site will be put underground to make room for new buildings, which will include a large area for residential development directly opposite the existing "Motor Mall" of car showrooms. A new bus/taxi interchange, with provision for a possible Luas stop, is to be provided at the heart of the new centre, which covers an area of 153 acres. However, it will not be served by the proposed Metro West linking Tallaght with Ballymun.
This orbital route is planned to run on a north-south axis through Clonburris. It is also located on the Dublin-Cork railway line, and the master plan envisages that it will be served by new stations as part of the improvements to the Kildare commuter route.
The council aims to build on these public transport assets and on environmental assets such as the Grand Canal, which traverses the SDZ, to create "a highly-sustainable new urban district" which could accommodate "substantial new development".
The plans may be inspected at the council offices in Tallaght and Clondalkin and at Lucan library, at the Mill Centre, Clondalkin, and at Liffey Valley shopping centre until September 15th. Details at www.clonburris.ieand www.southdublin.ie
