Dublin City Councillor Mary Fitzpatrick has welcomed An Bord Pleanála's decision to approve the North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock Planning Scheme which will facilitate fast-track planning for the Docklands Strategic Development Zone (SDZ).

However Cllr Fitzpatrick stated that: "Social and affordable housing must be prioritised as part of the residential allocation."

Cllr Fitzpatrick said: "I welcome this decision to develop Dublin Dockland SDZ, it will provide much-needed opportunities for business expansion, employment for almost 23,000 people and 2,600 badly-needed homes in the city centre, sufficient for 5,800 people.

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"However, allocation for social and affordable housing must be prioritised within the plan.

"With 30,000 people on Dublin's social housing list today there is an urgent need for housing supply in the City Centre. The SDZ scheme plan has allocated 50% of the new development as residential, which is welcome news. With applications to the social housing list rising daily this development is an obvious opportunity to contribute positively to this growing issue that is affecting households including young families, elderly, workers and those who cannot meet rising rental costs."

(CD)