Last updated: November 2024
A new landscape plan for the Santry River, developed since 2019, envisions it as “the backbone of a green infrastructure project,” designed to support nature, pedestrians, and cyclists. The project will create a continuous route from the Dublin Bay Biosphere at St Anne’s Park to the wider hinterlands of Dublin at Sillogue. The plan proposes transforming the Santry River into an “integrated green-blue landscape for ecology and recreation,” incorporating a variety of sports, cultural, and leisure activities. Through an agreement with Fingal County Council and the National Transport Authority, Dublin City Council has commissioned studies to address the existing flood risks along the river. The council’s goals for the Santry River include river restoration, flood mitigation, greenway development, and environmental protection, extending from the river’s origin in Harristown within Fingal County to its outlet at James Larkin Road. The project framework will span four years, with annual reviews and budget assessments. The project team has engaged the public in early autumn of 2022 to gather input on these plans, as the Santry River project aims to create a vibrant River Park that integrates natural and recreational elements. Running through North Dublin, this new green-blue infrastructure will serve both ecological and community needs, offering opportunities for sports, culture, and relaxation. Ultimately, it will form a natural corridor linking the Dublin Bay Biosphere at St Anne’s Park with Sillogue, promoting biodiversity while enhancing accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists (2).
A shared vision for the Santry River
Ref. 2
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Improvements to water quality
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Disaster-risk reduction
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- River flooding
- Urban flooding (stormwater)
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of green corridors (including connectivity between urban and rural ecosystems), Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, River rehabilitation/ restoration, Protection of riparian vegetation, Restoration of riparian vegetation, Strategy, plan or policy development, Creation of city-wide or neighborhood green and blue infrastrcuture protection or enhancement strategies/plans, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Habitat mapping, restoration and monitoring-focused management
Project objectives
To implement a comprehensive river restoration, flood alleviation, greenway, and environmental protection project to enhance the Santry River in Dublin.
To address the high levels of existing flood risks in Dublin.
To establish the Santry River as the backbone of a new green infrastructure project, supporting nature, pedestrians, and cyclists and creating a route from the Dublin Bay Biosphere at St Anne’s Park to the hinterlands at Sillogue.
To engage the local community in governance processes through public stakeholder engagement events, promoted via community groups, area offices, and this website.
To provide facilities for sports, cultural, and recreational activities.
To improve water quality, protect habitats, promote biodiversity (1-6)
Implementation activities
The project was initially in the information gathering and validation stage, which continued into 2023. This stage involves collecting and validating data to understand existing conditions, such as flood risks. By Autumn 2023, options were developed, and a Master Plan created outlining the preferred approach for managing these flood risks and integrating green-blue infrastructure (including retaining existing habitats of known species, develop riparian zones, re-design green areas within the riverpark for nature and amenity, develop a planting and maintenance program (tree survey and planting
programme)). Stakeholder consultation occured to gather input on the developed options, ensuring that the plan addresses community needs and concerns. Preliminary design work was anticipated to begin in Autumn 2023, followed by the planning process in Summer 2024 to obtain the necessary planning consent. After securing planning approval, detailed design work will commence, leading up to phased construction. Construction is expected to start in 2026 and will proceed in phases according to the detailed design. Public stakeholder engagement events will be organized throughout the project's duration to keep the community informed and involved. These activities collectively address existing flood risks and aim to enhance ecological and recreational aspects of the area, with the project anticipated to be completed by 2029 (1, 3).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Restore rivers and other fresh water bodies to reduce flood or drought risk
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Communities located in floodplains
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Means for conservation governance
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Public sector institution
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Taskforce groups
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Dublin City Council is leading the project on behalf of Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and the Nation Transport Authority (2). Additionally, the project team planned to reach out to the local community and stakeholders to gather their thoughts and keep them informed about upcoming activities. This engagement includes opportunities for site visits and collecting ideas via a portal, ensuring that the input from the local community is integrated into the project's development. Dublin City Council confirmed that a multi-disciplinary design team had been appointed for the project and said contract documents had been signed (2,6).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(EC Directive on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risks 2007, EU Floods, Water Framework, Birds and Habitats Directives (2))
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(SI 122 of 2010 EC Regulations 2010 and S2 495/2015 (2))
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
- Expected storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Expected improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Expected increased protection against flooding
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Expected enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
- Expected more sustainable tourism
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of natural heritage
- Expected protection of natural heritage
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Dublin City Council (n.d.). Santry River Restoration and Greenway Project. Dublin: Dublin City Council, Accessed on September 16, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Dublin City Council (n.d.). Project Background. Dublin City Council, Accessed on September 16, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Dublin City Council (n.d.). SANTRY RIVER RESTORATION & GREENWAY MASTERPLAN. Dublin City Council, Accessed on September 16, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Cunningham, R. (2022). River Restoration & Greenway Project. Dublin Gazette, Accessed on September 16, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Ginty, C. (2022). Santry River Restoration and Greenway Project consultation to be held next week. IrishCycle, Accessed on September 16, 2024, [Source link];
6.
McCullagh, T. (2022). Work to begin on new 6km greenway linking Santry with Bull Island. Irish Independent, Accessed on September 16, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Dublin Chamber of Commerce (n.d.). Economic Profile of Dublin. Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Accessed on September 16, 2024, [Source link];
Santry River Restoration and Greenway Project
Ref. 1
Santry River Restoration and Greenway Project
Ref. 1
Santry River
https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/environment/protection-water-bodies/green-infrastructure/santry-river-restoration-and-greenway-project/publications
Santry River
https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/environment/protection-water-bodies/green-infrastructure/santry-river-restoration-and-greenway-project/publications
Santry River
https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/environment/protection-water-bodies/green-infrastructure/santry-river-restoration-and-greenway-project/publications
Santry River
https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/environment/protection-water-bodies/green-infrastructure/santry-river-restoration-and-greenway-project/publications
Santry River
https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/environment/protection-water-bodies/green-infrastructure/santry-river-restoration-and-greenway-project/publications
Santry River
https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/environment/protection-water-bodies/green-infrastructure/santry-river-restoration-and-greenway-project/publications
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.