The Land Development Agency (LDA) announced plans on Tuesday to begin opening offices outside Dublin, starting with Cork and Limerick.
The plan will facilitate more flexible working arrangements for staff, but most importantly the move recognises the role of the LDA as a national agency with a mandate to help boost the scale of cities outside Dublin, in line with Project Ireland 2040’s ambition for growth outside Dublin.
When public health restrictions allow, the LDA will open offices in Cork and Limerick this year, with more bases outside Dublin planned in the near future.
The LDA’s mandate is to increase the supply of affordable housing through the efficient use of state land, and it already has significant activities in both Cork and Limerick cities.
In Cork, the LDA has submitted a planning application to build 260 new homes on the site of St Kevin’s Hospital and has also formed a partnership with Cork City Council to bring forward plans for the regeneration of a 146-acre site in Cork Docklands.
While in Limerick, the LDA is working with the City and County Council on plans for the redevelopment of a 50-hectare site around Colbert Station, to create a new urban quarter with a mix of residential, educational, health, community, and recreational uses.
‘BETTER DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT’
Commenting on the plan, John Moran, Chair of the LDA said: “I am delighted for the LDA move to be one of the first public sector agencies moving to a distributed working model. Rebalancing the social and economic drivers of Ireland is critical to creating a more liveable and attractive country.
“Given the re-evaluation of how we can all work more flexibly post Covid, there is no better time for the LDA to support more balanced regional development by opening offices outside of Dublin.
“With our national team operating cohesively in numerous locations we will benefit from better diversity of thought as to how we prioritise and deliver on our mandate. We can also offer challenging and rewarding career paths both in and outside of the capital.”
The new Land Development Agency Bill currently before the Oireachtas will allow the LDA to identify underused public lands, to draw up masterplans to develop those lands, and to manage the State land bank with the goal of increasing the supply of affordable housing.
It will also free up very significant capital from the Strategic Investment Fund for the LDA to drive on quickly with its mission. The LDA will continue its existing approach of working collaboratively with local authorities, communities and elected representatives to reach better development results.
