COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

MOTION NO. 53

MOTION: Councillor S. Crowe

That the Plan will take cognisance of age and health of many residents living in the rural area of the County and will take cognisance of the need of these families and their relatives in housing applications in future housing applications.

REPORT:

The Draft County Development Plan sets out a coherent spatial planning framework for the entire County within the context of national and regional policies. The core strategic aim of the Plan is to promote, at appropriate locations, a more consolidated and compact urban form for the County. It is generally accepted that rural housing should not be encouraged as by its nature it constitutes an unsustainable form of development and is contrary to the core strategy of consolidation.

However, it is also accepted that limited rural housing should be facilitated where justifiable. The criteria in which planning applications are assessed for rural one-off housing are set out in the Development Plan and associated Plans. The planning authority is not in a legal position to take into consideration the individual personal circumstances of applicants applying for permission for a one-off rural dwelling. All applications are assessed based on the criteria included in the Development Plan and associated Plans in a fair and equitable manner, which underpins the core principle of the Irish planning system which is based on the common good and sustainable development supported by local democracy and public participation. It should also be noted that Section 1.2.31 of the Draft Development Plan sets out policies in relation to Family Flat development which refers to the temporary sub-division or extension of a single dwelling unit to accommodate a member of the immediate family for temporary a period (e.g. older parent or other dependent).

With respect to the Strategic Environmental Assesment serious concerns are raised in relation to the motion. Increased housing development in the rural areas of the County will impact on many environmental issues such as existing biodiversity, river streams, increased car movements and the landscape. Such impacts are locally significant, but as rural development continues, put significant pressure on the environment, particularly on the landscape.

Manager’s Recommendation:

The proposed motion should not be adopted.