Title: Dublin City Council Approves Major Rezoning Plan for 25,000 New Homes

In a landmark move to address Dublin’s growing housing crisis, Dublin City Council has approved a comprehensive rezoning plan paving the way for the construction of up to 25,000 new housing units across the capital. The decision was reached during a special council meeting held last night.

Central to the plan is the integration of two major urban development projects — the Broombridge-Hamilton suburb in Glasnevin and the City Edge project in Kylemore — into the city’s broader housing strategy.

The newly designated Broombridge-Hamilton area, formerly known as Ballyboggan, will be developed as a mixed-use suburb accommodating approximately 8,500 residential units. Meanwhile, the City Edge project envisions around 5,300 new homes, alongside supporting infrastructure and commercial spaces.

Beginning early next year, the council will initiate a detailed review of lands within existing Strategic Development and Regeneration Areas (SDRAs) to identify further rezoning opportunities. Preliminary findings already indicate potential for an additional 6,000 to 8,000 housing units.

In a bid to maximise available land resources, vacant and underutilised Employment and Enterprise zones will also undergo reassessment. Early projections suggest these areas could yield around 2,000 additional homes following rezoning.

The move follows weeks of political pressure after Taoiseach Micheál Martin criticised Dublin City Council for previously suggesting that no new housing rezoning was necessary. Martin described the stance as “deeply surprising” and warned that the government would intervene if the council failed to take proactive steps.

Urban Rejuvenation Pilot Announced

In tandem with the rezoning plan, the council also unveiled an ambitious “Rejuvenation Pilot Project” aimed at revitalising Dublin’s city centre. The initiative will initially focus on Middle Abbey Street, North Frederick Street, and surrounding areas, transforming derelict, vacant, and underused properties into cost-rental housing for key workers, as well as new commercial and mixed-use spaces.

Developed by an Urban Redevelopment Working Group, the project draws on consultations with over 100 stakeholders, including representatives from state agencies, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), developers, financiers, and urban planning experts.

According to the council, the pilot “will demonstrate a new model of city-centre rejuvenation that can be scaled up city-wide,” forming a key component of the Dublin City Centre Task Force’s recommendations.

The combined initiatives mark one of the most significant housing and urban renewal efforts undertaken by Dublin City Council in recent years — a step seen as critical to tackling the capital’s chronic housing shortage and revitalising its urban core.