COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, June 18, 2015

MOTION NO. 309

MOTION: Councillor E. Higgins

That an objective / SLO be devised and included in the HCL 4 Objectives to secure the preservation of Windmill Hill, Rathcoole

REPORT:

The designation of the Stone Windmill in Rathcoole as a Protected Structure (Ref. Number 358) affords statutory protection to this historic structure in terms of condition, appearance and development under Planning and Development Legislation. This protection also extends to lands within the curtilage of the Stone Windmill including its setting.

This places an onus on the owners of the Protected Structure to ensure that the structure is not endangered through harm, decay or damage through neglect or through direct or indirect means. It is also an objective under the Draft Development Plan (HCL 3 Objective 3) to address dereliction of Protected Structures and encourage their rehabilitation, renovation and appropriate use and re-use.

HCL Policy 4 and its objectives relate to Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs), which are largely defined under Planning and Development Legislation as places, areas, groups of structures or townscape that are of special interest. South Dublin County Council commissioned an independent assessment of potential ACAs within the County in tandem with the Development Plan Review. A number of additional ACAs are now proposed and these largely consist of terraces or groups of dwellings that were designed and built as distinct entities or areas.

The area around Windmill House, which comprises rural agricultural lands and a working quarry, is not considered to be or sufficient special interest (architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social) to merit ACA designation.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is not adopted.