COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, June 18, 2015

MOTION NO. 301

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

To amend ‘HCL 10 Objective 7’ by deleting the first bullet point “Relates to the area’s amenity potential or its use for agriculture or recreational purposes, including recreational buildings; or”.

Co-sponsored by Cllr. Casserly

REPORT:

The Draft County Development Plan seeks to protect the unique amenity value and natural heritage and resources of the Liffey Valley while improving the potential for tourism and recreation.

The provision for development that relates to the amenity potential of the Liffey Valley would allow for the establishment of visitor or interpretive centres akin to that located on Bull Island or sports and recreation facilities such as the canoe/kayak clubhouses located in Chapelizod. This is in line with the core objectives of Towards a Liffey Valley Park (2007), which sets out to support sustainable economic activity and development that encourages the use of the river valley assets for tourism and recreation.

Any such development will be subject to the stringent safeguards prescribed for high amenity areas as set out under Chapter 11 Implementation and Chapter 9 Heritage, Conservation and Landscapes including the requirement that development is designed and sited to minimise environmental and visual impacts.

It is considered that the deletion of the provision for recreational buildings would significantly curtail the potential for creating a successful and vibrant linear parkland in terms of the range of passive and active recreational activities available for tourists and visitors within the Liffey Valley including walkers and cyclists.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment.

Retain the provision under HCL 10 Objective 7 for non residential development that relates to the area’s amenity potential or to its use for agriculture with the added clarification that this will be subject to the environmental and visual safeguards set under Chapter 11 Implementation and Chapter 9 Heritage, Conservation and Landscapes.