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Dublin Airport Operator Gifts 20-Acre Field for €10 to Local Council

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Dublin Airport's operator, DAA, has gifted a 20-acre field worth €1 million to Fingal County Council for €10. The land, located near the airport in North Co. Dublin, was previously used as a buffer zone for the airport's new North Runway. As part of the planning conditions, the DAA was required to create a natural habitat for flora and fauna. However, instead of selling the land at market value, the company chose to gift it to the council, who will maintain and manage it for the local community.

Key Takeaways:

  • The DAA has gifted a 20-acre field worth €1 million to Fingal County Council for €10 as part of a deal to build a new runway.
  • The land was previously used as a buffer zone for the airport and has been meticulously "rewilded" to support native flora and fauna.
  • The site, which is approximately six kilometers northwest of Dublin Airport, has been planted with native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees that support local wildlife.
  • Two-thirds of the site is woodland, while one-third is native grassland.
  • Fingal County Council will provide managed and supervised access to the site by arrangement, mainly for educational purposes.
  • The requirement to preserve an area as a natural habitat for flora and fauna formed part of planning conditions for the new North runway.
  • The DAA chose to gift the land to the council instead of selling it at market value, citing a commitment to environmental sustainability.

Statistics:

  • The 20-acre field is approximately six times the size of Croke Park.
  • The cost of purchasing the site and creating the habitat was around €1 million.
  • The DAA spent €1 million to rewild the site and make it accessible to limited numbers of visitors.
  • Two-thirds of the 20-acre site is given over to woodland.
  • One-third of the site is native grassland.
  • The land is located approximately six kilometers northwest of Dublin Airport.

Sources:

  • Irish Daily Mail. (No date). DAA GIFTES 20-ACRE FIELD FOR €10 TO LOCAL COUNCIL.

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