COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

MOTION NO. 88

MOTION: Councillor T. Ridge

Specific Local Objective

It is an objective of the Council to further examine and exploit the deep geothermal heat resources available and accessible at Newcastle and in this context the Council supports the pilot project described below on lands outlined on the attached map to further test and demonstrate the deep geothermal heat resources of the County which have already been identified at this location.

The Pilot Project will include the following:-

Phase One.

Phase Two.

Note:- Phase Two can only proceed after a successful outcome to phase one.

Phase Two is subject to the following provisions;

No development whatsoever can take place within the specific local objective boundaries outlined on the attached map until the geothermal resource has been proven and demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Council.

No development can take place on the pilot project lands until an overall masterplan for the development has been prepared and agreed with the elected members of the Council.

The agreed masterplan will include a requirement that any planning application for development in the pilot project lands must make provision for the early phased delivery of educational and community facilities for the Newcastle Village area where the existing facilities at the time of such planning applications fails to meet the relevant required level as laid down in the agreed plan. 

REPORT:

It has always been made clear that the Council supports the exploitation of geothermal energy where technically feasible and economically viable to serve existing or planned future demand at appropriate locations throughout the County.  A full report in this regard was given to the March meeting of the Council. With respect to the promotion of sustainable energy, including geo-thermal, the Council will continue to work with agencies and stakeholders, including SEAI, Tallaght Hospital, IT Tallaght and others to develop viable projects in and for appropriate areas of the County. Link to SDCC conference

However, it is considered that this Motion is contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development  of the County. The proposal is seriously flawed in that it seeks to link the exploitation of geothermal energy resources in this County to the unsustainable development of  unzoned greenfield lands at Newcastle.  There is a recent history of unsuccessful attempts by the relevant landowners in the area to have lands comprising 172 hectares (425 acres), including  the subject lands, rezoned for residential development, without any consideration of the Newcastle LAP.  A proposed development plan variation for this purpose  was rejected by  the elected members at the Council meeting in October 2007. It should be noted that significant residential capacity remains available for development on zoned lands adjacent to the lands identified in the  SLO.

The effect of the proposed specific local objective would be to earmark, for residential development, a substantial tract of greenfield land (44 hectares – 109 acres) on a part of the lands previously sought to be rezoned by variation of the Development Plan as outlined above.  The insertion into the County Development Plan of the proposed specific local objective could create a strong expectation on the part of other landowners of having their lands designated for development on similar unjustified grounds of sustainability.

On each previous occasion when proposals that would result in such development have been put to this Council  the elected members have been strongly advised that the development of these lands:

• would be contrary to the Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area (RPG-GDA),

• would have negative strategic implications for the future development of the County

• would be contrary to the tests for zoning/re-zoning agreed by Council in the preparation of the Development Plan 2004-2010, and stated in Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans issued by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

• would radically alter the nature and extent of the village of Newcastle and increase its population to town size; and, critically,

• would not deliver sustainable development.

Having considered the arguments made in relation to potential renewable energy resources in the area, It is considered that the proposed specific local objective is contrary to the Core Strategy of the Draft Plan which aims to provide a more consolidated and compact urban form for the County. Given the existing availability and location of zoned residential land coupled with the widespread opportunity for mixed-use and infill development within the County, it is considered that no expansion of residentially zoned land is required at this time.

It is considered that the above conclusions clearly demonstrate that the proposal is contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the County.

SEA comment :

The exploration of renewable energy in this instance is tied into the development of housing on significant amounts of Greenfield land in a predominantly rural area, adjacent to a dormitory village served by infrequent public transport. Development would result in impact on existing features such as biodiversity corridors, river, the rural landscape, and would result in a significant and unsustainable increase in car based emissions.

Manager’s Recommendation:

This Motion should not be adopted.