COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

MOTION NO. 25

MOTION: Councillor J. Hannon

Motion also proposed by Cllr C. King.

That in accordance with the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines (April 2005) issued by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and in accordance with Circular SP 5/08 Rural Housing Policies and Local Need Criteria in Development Plans: Conformity with Articles 43 and 56 (Freedom of Establishment and Free Movement of Capital) of the European Community Treaty issued by the DOEHLG on 30^th September, 2008, “persons who are an intrinsic part of the rural community” or “persons working full-time or part-time in rural areas” as described under Section 3.2.3 (Rural generated housing) of the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines (April 2005) shall be favourably considered in relation to rural housing, and that this policy be written into the Development Plan.

REPORT:

It is proposed by way of a Planning Department Motion on foot of a recommendation in the Manager’s Report to introduce an additional policy after Section 1.2.52.iv (Policy H32) and before Section 1.2.52.v (Policy H33) of the Draft Development Plan, in accordance with Circular SP5/08. This provides that a bone fide applicant who may not already live in the area, nor have family connections there or be engaged in a particular employment or business classified within the local needs criteria set out in the Development Plan, will be given due consideration within the proper planning and sustainable development objectives for the area subject to the following considerations.

Such applicants will be required to:

- satisfy the planning authority of their commitment to operate a full-time business from their proposed home in a rural area, as part of their planning application (to discourage commuting to towns and cities);

- applicants will be required to outline how their business will contribute to and enhance the rural community; and

- applicants will be required to satisfy the planning authority that the nature of their employment or business is compatible with those specified in the local needs criteria

for rural areas so as to discourage applicants whose business is not location-dependent (e.g. telesales or telemarketing).’

It is considered that the existing provisions of the Draft Plan relating to the management of one-off housing in rural areas (in particular subsections 1.2.50 to 1.2.54) are consistent with the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines (April 2005).

The Managers proposed amendment is consistent with the requirements of national guidelines and will enable all planning applications for houses in rural areas, regardless of where the applicant comes from or whether they qualify under specific criteria, to continue to be determined on the basis of the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, in accordance with the core strategy of this Development Plan and in particular the Development Plan policies regarding environmental concerns.

SEA Comments

(Biodiversity/Transport/Water/Landscape) Increased housing development in the rural areas of the county will impact both individually and cumulatively on many environmental issues such as existing biodiversity, river systems, increased car movements and the landscape. Such impacts are locally significant, but as rural housing development continues, put significant pressure on the environment, particularly on the landscape.

Manager’s Recommendation:

It is recommended that the motion not be adopted.