The Irish Times is reporting this morning that Leopardstown Racecourse is in detailed discussion with the Government Land Development Agency about the potential for building up to 1,000 social and affordable homes on land that is currently used for car parking at the southern end of the track.

The land was originally given to Leopardstown at the time the M50 was being built, requiring a reshaping of the racecourse and when it was identified by the Land Agency in recent years it became part of what Leopardstown and Horse Racing Ireland hope will be the catalyst for a new masterplan for sport and other facilities on the property.

Central to this will be the maintenance and potential expansion of horse racing on what is now Dublin’s only racecourse.  It stages the Christmas and Dublin Racing Festivals which collectively attract 100,000 fans over a five week period just completed.

It is also recognised around the world as an important racing venue, staging the Bahrain Jockey Club backed Irish Champion Stakes in September.

Horse Racing Ireland Racecourse CEO Paul Dermody is quoted in the story as saying that “I’d like to think that with a fair wind and collaboration between HRI and the LDA, we could submit our master plan to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown in the last quarter of this year.”

The negotiation on what would be considered fair value for the land, at a sufficient level to deliver an exciting master plan is where things stand at the moment.

 

 

SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

Housing is an essential and the proximity to Dublin and to the other major housing and community developments two junctions on the M50 at Cherrywood make this a key site.

Not great for the Circus grounds and the drive in open air cinema that use the grounds but potentially a game changer for the future of Leopardstown, it’s golf course and driving range and other developments that could form part of the Masterplan.

WHAT’S UP NEXT?

This is clearly a developing story and one we will be keeping a close eye on throughout 2025

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