Approval of major variation to Fingal’s Development Plan will allow 5,000 new homes to be built

Fingal County Council has formally approved a significant variation to the Fingal Development Plan 2023–2029, paving the way for 5,000 additional homes across the county. The decision follows a full public consultation process and detailed debate by elected members.

The variation was brought forward in response to the Government’s ‘NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements’ Guidelines, which require local authorities to increase housing supply and accelerate delivery. As part of a comprehensive review of land availability, Fingal has identified opportunities to expand residential zoning and support compact, well‑planned growth.

This expansion will increase Fingal’s overall development capacity—originally set at 35,000 homes - and ensure alignment with updated national housing targets and census data. It means that the updated plan would help facilitate the construction of some 40,000 homes on over 850 hectares, supporting long term growth, affordability and sustainable community development.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary said: “The decision to accommodate an additional 5,000 new homes marks a significant step toward meeting the housing needs of one of the country’s fastest‑growing and most diverse populations. As housing represents the single largest investment we are making, the approval of this variation demonstrates a strong commitment to delivering more sustainable homes in the right locations - places where communities can grow and thrive.”

A major pillar of the approved variation is the planned development of a new residential area at Dunsink. Fingal County Council has been actively preparing for this project for the past 18 months, undertaking early planning and assessment work to enable the delivery of approximately 2,500 new homes in the short term.This makes Dunsink the single largest contributor to the additional housing capacity added through the variation.

By bring forward Dunsink as a new residential district, the Council is not only expanding capacity but also demonstrating a long‑term strategic commitment: using well-located land to create mixed‑tenure communities with strong transport links, services and employment potential. It is expected that the development of Dunsink will become one of the most significant urban expansion projects in the Dublin region during the lifetime of the Development Plan.

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly said : “With this variation now approved, Fingal is positioned to move forward with renewed confidence and a clear commitment to sustained housing delivery across the county. There is now 852 hectares of zoned residential lands in the County, complemented by a further 164 hectares at Dunsink and 225 hectares within the Strategic Reserve. Together, these provide a strong and balanced pipeline that will add significant momentum to the delivery of new homes in the years ahead.”

Beyond the new Dunsink precinct, a further 2,500 homes will be facilitated through rezoning of land in a number of strategically selected locations across Fingal, including Barnhill, Clonsilla, Balrothery, Skerries, Lusk, Malahide, Kinsealy, and Clongriffin. These were all identified during the Council’s review as capable of supporting compact, well‑connected development served by public transport and existing community infrastructure.

Roisin Burke, Director of Planning at Fingal County Council said : “Significant work has gone into ensuring that the new zoning allocations strike the right balance between meeting housing demand, protecting the environment, matching infrastructure capacity and supporting long‑term sustainability. The approved variation not only aligns with updated national targets but also positions Fingal to plan strategically and responsibly for the decades ahead.”

The variation was prompted by the Section 28 Guidelines on National Planning Framework Implementation – Housing Growth Requirements which have replaced the Housing Supply Target Methodology for Development Planning, Guidelines for Planning Authorities, published in December 2020. Following the publication of the new guidelines in July, the Minister for Housing, James Browne TD, asked all 31 local authorities to review their Development Plans and incorporate the new annual housing delivery targets.

As part of the statutory consultation process, the variation had been on public display and sought input from local communities across Fingal. Around 1000 observations were made during that time.