This community news post is based on a joint statement from residents of Woodbrook and Shanganagh Castle concerning the proposed development at Woodbrook DART. The survey findings and views below are those set out in that resident statement.
Residents call for Woodbrook DART proposal to be reconsidered
Residents of Woodbrook and Shanganagh Castle in Dublin 18 are asking Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to reconsider the current proposal for a 360-unit apartment development at Woodbrook DART, and to prioritise existing infrastructure issues in both communities before further development is pursued.
The resident statement says the proposed development is on a site originally designated for parking and would provide 360 apartments with 137 parking spaces, roughly one space for every three units, with no visitor parking. Residents say they support and understand the need for new housing, but are concerned that additional development could place further pressure on infrastructure and services already under strain.
What the resident surveys found
Two independent resident surveys, covering nearly 900 people across 352 households, identified a number of recurring concerns in both Woodbrook and Shanganagh Castle.
Parking
In Shanganagh Castle, 42% of respondents said they struggle to park every day and 89% said they want more resident parking. In Woodbrook, where most residents currently live in houses rather than apartments, 67% said their household needs two parking spaces.
The statement notes that more than three-quarters of the original Woodbrook development plan remains unoccupied and says parking pressure is expected to increase as additional apartments become occupied.
“A car is not a luxury – for many people it is how they earn a living.”
Work and transport
The surveys report that 35% of Woodbrook respondents and 47% of Shanganagh Castle respondents say their work requires the use of a car. A further 21% in Woodbrook and 35% in Shanganagh Castle said they work hours or shifts when public transport is very limited or unavailable.
“A DART station is one part of sustainable development. It is not a substitute for schools, childcare, healthcare, parking, community facilities or being able to earn a living.”
Healthcare
More than half of respondents in both communities said they travel more than 20 minutes to reach a GP. The statement reports that 29% of Woodbrook respondents and 42% of Shanganagh Castle respondents were unable to register with a local GP.
Childcare
Almost 70% of Woodbrook families needing childcare said they use crèches outside Shankill because local facilities are full. In Shanganagh Castle, the figure reported in the statement is more than 80%.
Cost Rental tenancy management
Shanganagh Castle residents also raised concerns about accountability, communication and the resolution of maintenance and general management queries. The statement says management issues in Woodbrook have also been raised repeatedly by residents over a prolonged period.
EV charging
The statement says EV charging remains unavailable to Shanganagh Castle residents despite infrastructure having been installed. It also says some Woodbrook residents are not permitted to run private EV charging cables under or across public pavements, creating a practical barrier for residents wishing to move to electric vehicles.
Community safety
Residents in both estates reported concerns relating to policing, lighting, surveillance, access control and communication and response mechanisms when incidents occur.
Scale of development
The statement says Woodbrook has 1,200 planned homes, of which about 250 were occupied at the time of the survey, while Shanganagh Castle has 597 homes. It says Woodbrook’s population is expected to grow substantially over the next three years and that the proposed DART development would bring the total number of homes across the area to more than 2,000 units.
“Who pays for the savings?”
The resident statement argues that the full cost of development cannot be measured in construction budgets alone. It says that when parking, healthcare, childcare or community facilities are reduced or omitted, the consequences can be felt by existing residents through longer journeys, parking pressure, waiting lists and overstretched services.
What residents are calling for
- The proposal to be reconsidered and assessed against the cumulative impact of development across the area, and radically amended.
- Clear, deliverable commitments on parking, schools and childcare, GP services, local shops and pharmacy, a community centre, green space and play facilities, public transport, road safety and EV charging.
“Houses create neighbourhoods. Infrastructure creates communities. If we are serious about sustainable development, we need to deliver both.”
About the surveys
The Woodbrook survey, conducted in July – August 2026, received 116 responses from approximately 250 occupied households. The Shanganagh Castle survey received 236 responses. Percentages are based on respondents to each question and the two surveys used comparable, but not always identical, questions.
The Woodbrook Residents Association states that it supports sustainable housing in principle but objects to the proposal in its current form.
Media contacts
Woodbrook: Simone Sav – [email protected] — 087 714 9984
Shanganagh Castle: Lisa Groves – [email protected] — 085 726 2230
