COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

MOTION NO. 161

MOTION: Councillor T. Ridge

That this proposal for the following Specific Local Objective should be included in the Development Plan. The purpose of the objective is to provide concrete support for investment in the development of suitable renewable energy resources within this County within the plan period, in this case deep geothermal energy.  The following specific local objective provides this support without a general land zoning for unsustainable speculative development.

Specific Local Objective

"It is an objective of the Council to prioritise the development of indigenous renewable energy resources within the County.  In this context it is an objective of the County Development Plan to support the continued investigation of the potential and scale of the deep geothermal heat resources within the County, including confirmed available resources at Newcastle. It is also a specific local objective of the Council to support a pilot project to demonstrate the exploitation and use of the renewable energy resource in a new energy self-sufficient residential development adjacent to Newcastle. This will facilitate the development of future growth areas in the County in a sustainable manner. The specific local objective boundaries of the pilot project lands are outlined on the attached map. The development of the renewable energy pilot project lands shall be subject to the following provisions:

(a) No development whatsoever can take place within the specific local objective boundaries until the potential and capacity of the geothermal energy resource has been proven and demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Council.

(b) Development of the designated lands must not be undertaken in advance of the development of the geothermal resource. All development to be in accordance with the requirements and in a sequence to be agreed with the Council.

(c) Not more than 50% of the residential element of the designated lands to be developed in the lifetime of this Development Plan.

(d) Before the terms of this specific local objective can come into effect, every effort shall be made, to the satisfaction of the elected members of the Council, to locate the geothermal pilot project on the currently zoned residential land in Newcastle. However, if within 3 months from the date of adoption of this Development Plan, such lands cannot be made available or prove to be unsuitable, the pilot project shall be located on the designated lands as outlined on the attached map.

REPORT:

The following provisions are included in the draft Written Statement:

“2.5.10.i Policy EC5: Renewable Energy

It is the policy of the Council to support and promote renewable energy initiatives in conjunction with other relevant agencies, when these are undertaken in an environmentally acceptable and sustainable manner.

 2.5.9 Renewable Energy

It is acknowledged that renewable energy sources have an important role to play in achieving national targets in relation to reductions in fossil fuel dependency and, by implication, greenhouse gas emissions. In line with the principles of sustainable development, the Council will support and prioritise the development of indigenous renewable energy resources and the maximisation of electricity production from renewable sources.

 It is an objective of the Council, in conjunction with the appropriate agencies, to identify areas within the County suitable for renewable energy development and to examine the renewable energy technologies that make use of the indigenous natural resources in the County in a sustainable manner, having regard to any constraints there might be on their development. The Council will also have regard to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2006) and any other relevant guidelines that may be published from time to time. The Council will encourage best practice development to ensure the long term success of these endeavours.

 It is an objective of the Council to examine the potential for the exploitation of deep geothermal heat resources within the County in association with the development of a new sustainable energy-efficient community, in order to facilitate the development of future growth areas in the County in a sustainable manner.”

 It is considered that these provisions are appropriate and adequate expressions of the Council’s support and encouragement for renewable energy initiatives in the County, having regard to the strategic aims of the draft County Development Plan.

 With regard to the potential development of geothermal resources at Newcastle, information available to the council indicates that this extensive resource could potentially be developed at a number of locations in the County. However, it appears that the likely capital costs of any such development project would be considerable. The recovery of such costs would seriously constrain the viability of any development dependent on the energy produced. It is evident that only a large scale urban development could justify such high additional development costs.

 Members will be aware that a number of landowners in the vicinity of Newcastle have previously sought to have their lands rezoned for residential development, comprising of 172 hectares (425 acres), by means of a variation of the County Development Plan.  The report to members in relation to that proposal concluded that:

• it would be contrary to the Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area (RPG-GDA),
• it would have strategic implications for the future development of the County that should not be considered outside the Development Plan review process,
• it would be contrary to the tests for zoning/re-zoning agreed by Council in the preparation of the Development Plan 2004-2010.  These tests were largely re-stated in Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans issued by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government recently.
• it would radically alter the nature and extent of the village of Newcastle and increase its population to town size,
• it would not represent the only mechanism for delivering affordable housing in the area and, critically
• it would not deliver sustainable development.

 It is considered that these conclusions remain valid.

 The effect of the proposed motion if adopted would be to establish a basis for the rezoning of a substantial tract of greenfield land (44 hectares – 109 acres) on a part of the lands previously sought to be rezoned as outlined above.

 Following a review of the strategic aims of the County Development Plan the development strategy for  the County has been further refined to align it closely with a broad range of planning guidelines issued by government departments in the period since the current development plan was adopted. 

 It is considered that, notwithstanding any consideration of potential renewable energy resources in the area, any urban residential development on lands in the vicinity of Newcastle outside the current development envelope of Newcastle village would not constitute sustainable development and would be contrary to the strategic aims of the Draft County Development Plan.

 MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION:

That the motion not be adopted.