COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, June 18, 2015

MOTION NO. 191

MOTION: Councillor P. Gogarty

Amend page 85 5.3.0, paragraph 4 to read: The South Dublin County Retail Hierarchy incorporates the Level 3 centres identified by the Retail Strategy for the GDA 2008 – 2016, but also reflects the unique nature of the highest density urban areas of the Strategic Development Zones at Adamstown and Clonburris. The South Dublin County hierarchy also identifies the established shopping centres of Ballyowen, Firhouse, Knocklyon and Palmerstown as Level 3 centres. The level of activity, range of uses and population catchment of these centres, aligns strongly with the description of a Level 3 centre in the Retail Strategy for the GDA and the Retail Planning Guidelines. The Level 3 (b) designation of these centres reflects their existing function and provides opportunities for revitalisationand growth in tandem with population growth in the catchment. The status of the centres is reflected in the hierarchy of urban centres though a District Centre Zoning Objective.”

Co-sponsored by Cllrs Liona O’Toole, Deirdre O Donovan, Guss O’Connell, Francis Timmons, Francis Noel Duffy

REPORT:

The motion proposes the following text in Section 5.3.0

(additions to CE Draft emphasised in bold)

‘The South Dublin County Retail Hierarchy incorporates the Level 3 centres identified by the Retail Strategy for the GDA 2008 – 2016, but also reflects the unique nature of the highest density urban areas of the Strategic Development Zones at Adamstown and Clonburris. The South Dublin County hierarchy also identifies the established shopping centres of Ballyowen, Firhouse, Knocklyon and Palmerstown as Level 3 centres. The level of activity, range of uses and population catchment of these centres, aligns strongly with the description of a Level 3 centre in the Retail Strategy for the GDA and the Retail Planning Guidelines. The Level 3 (b) designation of these centres reflects their existing function and provides opportunities for revitalisation and growth in tandem with population growth in the catchment. The status of the centres is reflected in the hierarchy of urban centres though a District Centre Zoning Objective.’

This motion should be considered in tandem with the related motion (Item No. 45195) and the proposed text for insertion is to implement/ reiterate the retail hierarchy changes proposed under that motion.

The Retail Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2008 - 2016 sets out a five-tier Retail Hierarchy for the Greater Dublin Area. The South Dublin County Retail Hierarchy in Table 5.1 is derived from and follows the five tier hierarchy of the Retail Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2008 – 2016.

The Chief Executive does not recommend the subdivision of Level 3 into 3(a) and 3(b). The subdivision would indicate that the Level 3(a) centres are above the Level 3(b) centres in the County and this contradicts the overall aim of the retail policies and objectives in the CE Draft Plan.

The CE Draft Plan establishes Clondalkin Town Centre as a primary urban centre in the Urban Hierarchy and as a Level 3 retail centre in the Retail Hierarchy (only below Tallaght and Liffey Valley) with a policy to enhance the retailing function.

The inclusion of the SDZ centres as a specific Level 3(a) above Clondalkin would enable the development of the Clonburris and Adamstown SDZ District Centres to a scale and type superseding Clondalkin.

It is considered that the design, quality and density of the SDZ centres are addressed in R2 Objective 3 and the approved Planning Schemes and do not require an additional new Level in the retail hierarchy.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the amended motion (Item no. 45195) be adopted inserting the following text into Section 5.3.0 Additional Floorspace

The SDZ District Centres will reflect the higher density SDZ urban environment and will cater for a varied range of comparison shopping, including the possibility of anchor department stores on main shopping streets, some leisure activities and a range of cafés and restaurants and other mixed uses. They should contain at least one supermarket and ancillary foodstores alongside financial and other retail services. SDZ District Centres should generally cater for a local population catchment of 10,000-40,000 people and be developed in accordance with the approved Planning Scheme.