Sod Turned on New Beckett Link Road in Cherrywood

This week, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council marked a significant milestone in the ongoing development of the Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) with the official sod turning for the Beckett Link Road - a key infrastructure project that will greatly enhance connectivity for residents, businesses, and future development across the area.

The new link road will improve access between existing and planned neighbourhoods within Cherrywood, support sustainable travel options, and unlock new additional opportunities for housing and employment as part of one of Ireland’s largest urban growth areas.

The Beckett Link Road is being delivered as part of dlr’s continued investment in high–quality infrastructure to support sustainable communities across the County. The project is funded significantly through the Government’s ‘Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund’ (formerly the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which underpins more compact and sustainable development in line with Project Ireland 2040. 

Speaking at the sod turning, Cllr. Barry Saul, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said: 

“This is a very positive day for Cherrywood and for the county. The Beckett Link Road will play a crucial role in supporting families, businesses, and future growth in the area. As Cathaoirleach, I am delighted to see this project moving forward and to witness first-hand the progress being made in creating a modern, accessible, and thriving new district for Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown.”

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, stated: 

“Today’s sod ‑turning for the Beckett Link Road marks a transformative moment for the future of Cherrywood. The provision of almost €35 million through the Government’s ‘Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund’ (formerly URDF) will not just support the delivery of over 12,400 much-needed homes in Cherrywood, but will also deliver essential services and facilities, including the extension of the walking and cycling network. Through its support for this, and over 400 other URDF projects across the State, the Government is reinforcing its commitment to providing the critical infrastructure required to build new homes and regenerate urban communities, making them more attractive and vibrant places to live, work, visit and invest in. 

“The Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund builds on the success of the URDF, but will support a greater focus on disadvantaged areas and a wider scope of eligibility to include smaller towns. Under the new Fund, all towns with a population of over 9,000 are now eligible. I welcome the leadership shown by Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council in progressing this project and look forward to seeing the benefits it will bring to residents and the wider region.”

Frank Curran, Chief Executive, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, added: 

“The Beckett Link Road is a strategic piece of infrastructure that will improve mobility, open up new development lands, and contribute to the delivery of thousands of new homes within the Cherrywood SDZ. Today’s milestone reflects the strong collaboration between the Council, Government, and our delivery partners. We are committed to building well-connected, sustainable communities, and the commencement of this project is an important demonstration of that commitment.”