The objective of the project is to deliver new homes and supporting community amenities.

The project represents an opportunity to transform this inward-looking, closed off site into a new, welcoming, sustainable urban community with a distinctive identity that will be integrated into the wider community of Dundrum.

The Draft Masterplan proposes 1,259 new homes with supporting community and recreational amenities. The planned development is to consist of newly built homes on the grounds of Central Mental Hospital (CMH) and the repurposing of key heritage buildings. This is particularly the buildings which are distinctive in their character and heritage and exploring how they can be beneficially reused.  Connectivity and community integration will be important outcomes for the new neighbourhood.

The Draft Masterplan sets out how the proposed scheme has responded to a range of site constraints and opportunities, and how the design process has considered feedback at key stages from consultation and engagement to balance the issues and opportunities and achieve the design principles and optimise the potential for this landmark site.

The LDA design approach aims to be inclusive and responsive to the unique local context, and the key opportunity that the site presents for a distinct and integrated urban community in Dundrum.

The masterplan design ethos is underpinned by the following themes:

• Integration: Adopt a holistic Masterplan design approach that enhances the permeability of the site and access for the wider community.
• Heritage: Encourage adaptive reuse of the existing built heritage assets.
• Identity & Character: Creating a place that celebrates the site’s unique setting and maximises its development potential.
• Distinctive Landscape: Create a distinctive landscape that will build upon, refine and integrate the existing natural assets within the Draft Masterplan.
• Sustainable Urban Community: Create an urban quarter which is environmentally and socially sustainable and focuses on enhancing diversity and inclusion.
• Diversity: Design a neighbourhood that significantly enhances the perception of the site and is attractive to a different profile of residents.

The Draft Masterplan is being consulted on until 21^st May 2021. This final stage of Pre -Application Consultation with the publication of our Draft Masterplan proposals provides an opportunity for people to see the near final proposals and provide feedback. Following this stage, and the incorporation of potential refinements, final proposals will be prepared and formally submitted for consideration for approval by the decision-making authority and this is anticipated for Q3 this year. In line with statutory processes, any interested persons or parties will have the opportunity to make observations on the final proposals. Subject to planning approval being granted in early 2022, construction would be expected to commence during Q1 of 2023 with the first units expected to be made available in mid-2024.

The project will be implemented in line with relevant planning approvals and as required under the direction of the Land Development Agency. There will be ongoing engagement with the community regarding timing and progress during the delivery phase.

The LDA has undertaken a comprehensive community and stakeholder engagement process from the earliest design stages to help ensure that the views of the local community can be considered as the design process is progressed for this key site.

We believe the project will be strengthened by seeking the experience and views of the local community.  We have provided opportunities at key stages in line with our Community and Stakeholder Engagement Plan to seek your views as we progress the designs and plans for this landmark scheme. This includes virtual exhibitions and webinars and meetings where relevant, to engage and listen to the views of stakeholders.

More information is available in the Community and Stakeholder Engagement Plan about the key stages for engagement and updates will be provided on this website.

There is a comprehensive engagement process for the Dundrum Central* project which has provided a series of opportunities at key stages for people to get involved. At these key stages, feedback is sought from the design team to help inform consideration as the designs are developed from the earliest stages and prior to finalising these for the planning application stage.

The Draft Masterplan that has now been published for consideration is the result of three phases of consultation to date, which have included a public online exhibition, a project website, meetings with elected representatives, community groups and residents’ associations, two webinars, a community survey and over 250 submissions to the project team.

This consultation sees the publication of the Draft Masterplan for the project. The Draft Masterplan shows how the designs have evolved from the outline ‘Concept’ plan presented at the third phase of consultation (January / Feb 2021) to this Draft Masterplan proposal which is now close to the final proposal.

 

Following this, we will complete our designs and prepare an application to seek planning approval.  There will be an opportunity for interested parties to make observations as part of the statutory process at this point.  Observations will be considered by the decision-making authority in making their decision on the planning application.

While Covid-19 has severely challenged the possibility of holding physical consultation events, we have been holding virtual events, meetings and calls as well as our initial leaflet drop.  We appreciate and have been very encouraged by the engagement and interest in the project to date.

The LDA has a Community Liaison Officer to support and engage, and at any stage of the consultation, you can get in touch in relation to the project. We welcome all feedback through our community engagement portal on the website and virtual room, but we also welcome feedback through email or post to the details below.

We will regularly update stakeholders, using a variety of communications including, public notices, media, the project website, and direct contact.  If you would like to sign up to receive updates on the project via text or email, please go here.

*‘Dundrum Central’ is a working title for the project at this design stage only.

The CMH site is a landmark site with important heritage and history and is being treated with the sensitivity it deserves.  We are working with heritage and cultural experts to ensure that the legacy and archive of this unique campus can be preserved in an appropriate way.  Specific advice will be taken from close work with the OPW and The National Archives on these matters.

The Draft Masterplan seeks to ensure that any new development in the vicinity of key heritage buildings is carefully designed in such a way that the character of the landscape or context is always maintained or enhanced. The setting of the heritage buildings will be enhanced with new high-quality public realm and sensitive interventions at appropriate locations.

The CMH site has long been closed off from the public, and our aim with this development is to open this landmark site up and integrate it within the local community and provide supporting community and recreational facilities.

The development proposes a new build community facility providing: Multi-purpose hall capable of hosting sports, drama, exhibitions, etc; 2 no. additional community meeting rooms; a large flexible space at mezzanine level overlooking the sports hall; changing facilities accessible to Rosemount Green via removal of the boundary wall.

The existing hospital is to be adapted for reuse as an enterprise and innovation centre, with the chapel and infirmary also proposed for community / amenity uses. Significant public spaces, gardens and community friendly spaces are also to be provided with a third of the overall site area proposed publicly accessible open space public access.

Sustainability is a key objective of the LDA to support with delivering sustainable communities. In all areas, care and consideration of the environment, sustainable development of the site and integration with the landscape to enhance and optimise biodiversity and sustainability is a core part of the design. The interconnected series of green spaces is intended to encourage biodiversity across the site, connecting to the wider green infrastructure. These spaces will be populated by a variety of mature trees, an orchard, hedgerows, informal water features, all set within a grass parkland environment.

The design supports and promotes a modal shift to facilitate a more sustainable and low carbon approach to development. Many more residents will travel by sustainable and active means of transport. This supports an enhanced demand management approach, reducing the need to travel by private car and encouraging cycling by greatly enhancing cycle parking and more access to the surrounding routes connecting with public transport options and the wider cycling and walking network. Mobility management plans will support this approach.

This will be supported with enhanced capacity and frequency in public transport options which are currently being rolled out by the NTA.

The Draft Masterplan provides 540 car parking spaces for the site, which includes flexible car hire /car-sharing options as well as access to sustainable travel alternatives. Car parking is proposed to be in a podium arrangement (landscaped deck over ground) at the residential blocks. Pedestrian and cyclists are prioritised with high quality and permeable links a key feature to encourage greater levels of walking and cycling.

The project aims to open parts of the walled environment to the surrounding neighbourhoods, to integrate where practicable facilitated by new movement and access links. The scheme is designed to enhance opportunities for walking and cycling and use of public transport with the use of shared spaces and home zones to create a more people-oriented environment.

It is also worth noting that the development of the Dundrum Central project will be phased over a number of years which will reduce the immediate impact on the transport infrastructure.

New openings are proposed in the wall to increase visibility and permeability, opening up the site to the public, forming a new relationship between the site and the surrounding community. Stone removed from the wall will be incorporated into the new development, with the wall to remain intact at boundaries to neighbouring properties.

The Draft Masterplan proposes to develop the Dundrum Central site sensitively, balancing the aims for the development of a new sustainable urban neighbourhood and integrating with the mature landscape to provide high quality multi-functional and attractive open space.

Approximately 34% of the site is proposed to be provided for publicly accessible open space, and the aim is to sensitively develop and optimise the site and landscape setting to achieve high quality compact sustainable development. The Draft Masterplan layout has carefully considered the setting and surrounding neighbourhood. A variety of housing typologies are proposed to respect and integrate with the surrounding community and are designed in a tapered way and avoid overlooking.

The proposals have regard to national planning policy objectives, to achieve compact urban growth, with 1,259 homes and a range of supporting community and recreational amenities. The proposed gross density currently equates to approx. 111 homes to the hectare.

Following consultation and further analysis, proposed building heights have been significantly reduced at a number of locations. The residential design will create an appropriately dense, mixed-use neighbourhood by promoting a diverse tenure mix and range of residential unit types from apartment buildings to terraced housing with a variety of residential unit types. Since the ‘Concept’ Stage, new buildings have been proposed in the vicinity of the hospital, which will provide courtyards and a greater variety of housing typologies across the site. In addition, the overall number of dwellings proposed has been reduced since ‘Concept’ Stage from 1,300 to 1,259, with a greater proportion of family dwellings now proposed at the site.

The overall site is 11.3 hectares. The project represents an opportunity to transform this inward-looking, closed off site into a new, welcoming, sustainable urban community with a distinctive identity that will be integrated into the wider community of Dundrum. Approximately one-third of the site is proposed to be provided for publicly accessible open space, and the aim is to sensitively develop and optimise the site and landscape setting to achieve high quality compact sustainable development.

The planned development is to consist of newly built homes on the grounds of Central Mental Hospital (CMH) and the repurposing of key heritage buildings. This is particularly the buildings which are distinctive in their character and heritage and exploring how they can be beneficially reused. Connectivity and community integration will be important outcomes for the new neighbourhood.

The new sustainable urban neighbourhood has been designed to be inclusive and provide for a variety of housing typologies and tenure offering sustainable and affordable housing choice.

While the tenure mix is yet to be confirmed by emerging Government policy in this area the primary focus of the development will be affordable and social housing and the majority of housing will fit that criteria. This will allow people to set down secure roots and further strengthen the community.

It will also provide options for young people from the area to access homes in the area that would otherwise be priced out.