COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEASSOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

HEADED ITEM NO. 23

To amend the last bullet point under Policy Section 1.4.37 to read as follows (additional text in bold):

1.4.37.iv   Policy SN33: Solar Gain

               It is the policy of the Council that new developments achieve high levels of natural daylight entering the buildings so that passive solar gain will be utilised to heat buildings. The disposition and orientation of buildings maximises the availability of sunlight to the building.

In this regard the following principles will be considered:

•              Buildings should be orientated broadly to the south or be of innovative design to maximise solar gain; 

•              Planting of large size evergreen trees where they can interfere with daylight entering buildings should be avoided. Deciduous trees work well to provide shade and shelter in summer and yet allow light to penetrate in the winter;

•              Buildings should be positioned to minimise the creation of wind tunnels;

•              Tall, free-standing buildings that produce wind vortexes which make the pedestrian climate uncomfortable and encourage heat loss should be avoided;

•              Large spaces between buildings that cause turbulence at the ground should be avoided.  Public spaces should also be protected from downdrafts from tall buildings;

•              Shelter should be provided for dwellings, play areas, courtyards and gardens by the building/placement of ground modelling, walls, hedges and other planting;

•              New developments should incorporate techniques within the design that will conserve water during the buildings’ use such as green roofs, water butts, and the recycling of grey surface water for flushing toilets;

•              The use of ground heating, cooling systems, wood pellet burners, insulation, solar panels and wind power, where appropriate, will be encouraged;

•              Proposed developments should use existing natural drainage patterns within their design through Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) and should limit the requirement for separate off-site disposal of surface water;  

•              Existing water bodies such as waterways, ponds and lakes should be protected and incorporated within the overall design and

•              The use of hard surfaces should be limited.  Parking and hardstanding areas shall be constructed in accordance with the Manager’s Recommendations of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) and include measures to prevent drainage from hardstanding areas entering onto the public road. (see also Section 2.3.9 - Ground and Surface Waters)