The Land Development Agency is seeking feedback on proposals for housing in Kinsealy on part of the former Teagasc lands.

My initial concern, which I have already fed back to the LDA, is that the project must provide safe access from the existing housing to the Educate Together National School and on to St. Nicholas of Myra National School. This needs to be in the final layout when the development is completed, and logically would be provided from the greenway proposed to be built in phase 1 of the LDA’s plans. But access must also be provided during the construction period, by providing a route through the land reserved for the second phase while the first phase is under construction.

In general the proposal has a welcome emphasis on prioritising walking and cycling. However, development of this land also is reliant on the greenway to Portmarnock station which should have gone to planning in 2021.

Additional issues include

• the fact that some of the housing is proposed for land identified in the LAP for a school and pitches, amenities the rapidly growing community will require, and
• the absence of cost rental housing from the development.

Although I immediately raised the safe school access issue with the LDA, and passed on some relevant contact details and background information, I will make a more detailed submission after the election.