UPDATED: Call for ‘balanced redevelopment’ of former Machinery Yard site located in Kildare

A Kildare county councillor has called for the "balanced redevelopment" of the Machinery Yard site located in Newbridge.

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender has voiced criticism over the Land Development Agency’s (LDA) "apparent intention" to develop the machinery yard site solely for housing, describing the approach as "short-sighted, unimaginative and a missed opportunity for meaningful town centre regeneration".

These plans were reported by the Leinster Leader early last week.

Cllr Pender elaborated: "The machinery yard is one of the last large, publicly owned sites in the heart of Newbridge... to use it exclusively for housing is to ignore the broader needs of a growing town struggling with serious deficits in community, recreational, and sporting infrastructure."

"Newbridge, a town now approaching 27,000 people, still has no public swimming pool and lacks a multi-purpose sports or community facility capable of catering for its growing population.

"While a new youth centre is in development and the town is fortunate to have the Riverbank Arts Centre, there remains a clear shortage of spaces for everyday recreation, indoor sports, and public gathering."

Cllr Chris Pender outside of the site in Newbridge. Photograph supplied by Cllr Pender

Cllr Pender continued: "Despite repeated calls from residents and local groups to turn the machinery yard into a flagship public facility, I and a number of other councillors made formal submissions during the Local Area Plan pre-consultation in November calling for exactly that, yet the LDA is now targeting the site to deliver between 90 and 120 homes without any firm provision for community infrastructure.

"There’s no dispute that we need housing, but it cannot come at the cost of every other public good.

"A thriving community is built on more than just bricks and mortar. People need spaces to connect, to be active, and to access services... this site represents a unique chance to deliver that.

"What we’re calling for isn’t radical – it’s responsible, it’s sustainable, and it’s in line with both the National Planning Framework and the emerging Settlement Plan for Newbridge.

"This isn’t about saying no to housing... it’s about saying yes to doing it right,” he concluded.

Cllr Pender also said that he is submitting a Freedom of Information request to the LDA in order to seek all records of discussions and decisions concerning the Newbridge site. 

In addition, he claimed that he has asked Kildare County Council to clarify whether community uses were considered during engagement with the LDA.

"The people of Newbridge deserve transparency, and they deserve ambition," he said. "We won’t stand by and allow short-term thinking to undermine the long-term potential of this town."

UPDATE — This article has been amended to clarify that Newbridge Machinery Yard is in fact still in use. Apologies for any confusion.

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