COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 08, 2014

HEADED ITEM NO. 12

HEADED ITEM: C. Services Department

COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW - UPDATE

South Dublin County Council commenced a review the current South Dublin County Development Plan on September 5th 2014. The process will take up to two years and will conclude with the adoption of a new South Dublin County Development Plan 2016-2022, during 2016.

Current Stage of the Process

The initial pre-plan consultation phase ran from 5th September to 31st October 2014, during which time submissions were invited from interested parties on ‘big-picture’ issues affecting the spatial development of the County.

The Development Plan team is currently preparing a Chief Executive’s Report on the initial pre-plan consultation process for the elected members to consider. The Report will list those who made submissions, summarise the issues raised and give the opinion of the Chief Executive (CE) in the context of proper planning and sustainable development. Report will be circulated before the Christmas closure, by Friday 19th December.

Next Stage of the Process

The elected members will have 10 weeks (+9 days to account for the Christmas closure), within which to consider the CE’s Report and to give direction to the CE in relation to the preparation of a new draft County Development Plan.

A Special County Council Meeting is scheduled for late February 2015 in order to enable direction to be given to the CE and Development Plan team in drafting a new County Development Plan. Once direction has been given in late February/early March 2015, the Development Plan team will have 12 weeks to complete preparation of a draft County Development Plan.

Proposals to Inform the Next Stage of the Process

In order to inform the next stage of the process, the Development Plan review team will hold an informal briefing with each ACM during January 2015. The briefings will be held immediately after each meeting. The purpose of the briefing will be to:-

In addition, the content of the CE’s report on initial public consultation will be presented as a headed item at each ACM, prior to the briefing. Subject to the wishes of the members/ACMs, the Development Plan team will be available to engage further in order to assist the Direction stage of the process.

Subsequent Stages of the Process in 2015

Once direction has been given in February/March 2015, the Development Plan team has 12 weeks to complete preparation of a draft County Development Plan. It is expected that the draft Plan will be submitted to elected members during May 2015.

The elected members will have up to 8 weeks for consideration of the draft Plan, prior to public display of the document. A Special County Council Meeting will be scheduled for late June 2015 to enable members to approve the draft County Development Plan for public display.

It is possible for the elected members to propose amendments at this stage, but it is envisaged that changes would not be extensive, as the draft Plan must be put on display within two weeks of being considered at a meeting. It is intended to work with members at the Direction stage (above) in order to ensure that significant changes are not required immediately prior to final draft display.

Public consultation on the draft County Development Plan will commence in July 2015 and will run for 10 weeks to the end of September 2015. This is the period during which time submissions may be made by all interested parties

The Development Plan team must then prepare a Chief Executive’s Report on the draft Plan consultation process that details submissions received together with the opinion of the CE, for the elected members to consider. This Report will be circulated before the Christmas break in December 2015.