COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, June 18, 2015

MOTION NO. 251

MOTION: Councillor C. King

11.4.2 Car Parking Standards. Table 11.23 Maximum Parking rates:

Enterprise & Employment (offices & manufacturing). revert to current standards of 4per 100sqm or 2 per 50sqm to ensure the retention of the competitive edge for the County that currently exists in attracting this form of employment to the area.

REPORT:

Table 11.4.2 of the Chief Executives draft proposes that parking for offices and manufacturing be at a maximum rate of:

1 space per 1 per 50 sqm (general) or 1 per 100 sqm (within close proximity to public transport).

The current County Development Plan permits parking at the rate of:

1 space per 35 sqm of gross floor area for manufacturing and

1 space per 40 sqm of gross floor area for offices. 

The rates contained within the current Development Plan are a guideline only, with the Planning Authority determining the final rate based on a number of criteria.  In areas well served by public transport or alternative means of access, the car parking standards provided are taken to be the maximum provision.

The approach proposed within the Chief Executives Draft is not likely to differ significantly in practice from that of the current Development Plan.  The proposed approach will however offer a far greater level of guidance, and therefore add a greater level of certainty to the planning process. 

The proposed parking rates where also developed with regard to those applied in adjoining local authorities within the Dublin Metropolitan Area, for example:

• The draft Dun Laoghaire CDP 2016-2022 contains a maximum of 1 space per 50 sqm of gross floor area (general) or 1 space per 75 sqm of gross floor area (within a public transport corridor) for offices.

• The Fingal CDP 2011-2017 contains a maximum of 1 space per 25 sqm of gross floor area for offices

• Dublin City council at maximum rates of 1 per 400 sqm, 1 per 200 sqm and 1 per 100 sqm (all gross floor area) depending on proximity to the city centre and/or public transport.

The proposed standards are also based on those recommended within the Draft Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2011-2030.

There is also a concern that application of more generous parking rates will reduce the viability of public transport services, result in increased traffic congestion throughout the network and conflict with several Policy/Policy Objectives within the Chief Executives Draft (see Items 45118 and 45177).

To address concerns related to the competiveness of the County, the proposed parking rates for offices could be amended to match those within the draft Dun Laoghaire CDP 2016-2022

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment. 

That Table 11.4.2 be amended so that parking for offices is applied at the rate of:

1 space per 1 per 50 sqm (general) or 1 per 75 sqm (within close proximity to public transport).