COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, February 04, 2016

MOTION NO. 39

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

 

Residential Density

To include a new objective under H8: “To facilitate the development in limited locations of larger four and five bed detached homes, where it can be evidenced that there is an under-supply of such housing types in the surrounding so as to promote a sustainable residential mix in communities.”

 

Co-sponsored by Cllr. Brophy, Casserly, Dermody, Donovan, Egan,

REPORT:

The ‘Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas’ (2009) sets out a range of appropriate residential densities for different contexts based on site factors and the level of access to existing and planned infrastructure and services, including public transport, physical and social infrastructure. The Planning Authority must have regard to these Ministerial Guidelines in the performance of its functions, as required under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Guidelines that contain specific planning policy requirements must also be applied by planning authorities and the Board in the performance of their functions.

The proposed motion would provide a blanket exception for low density houses across the county regardless of location or appropriateness and does not take cognisance of the requirement to apply different density ranges according to location and access to existing and planned infrastructure and services. There are many areas of the County where low densities achieved by 4 and 5 bedroom houses would be inappropriate including Town, District and Local Centres and high capacity public transport corridors.

Section 11.3.0 (Land Uses) of the Draft Plan provides that Local Area Plans, SDZ Planning Schemes and Framework Plans can set out specific density bands that are based on local context. This provides scope for the plan led prescription of lower residential densities in the more peripheral area of the County such as the Ballycullen-Oldcourt (2014) and Newcastle (2012) Local Area Plans, which prescribe lower residential densities that are applicable to 4 and 5 bedroom houses.

It is therefore recommended that the motion be amended to facilitate, in limited locations, four and five bed detached homes on lands that are appropriate to low density residential development.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment:

To facilitate, in limited locations, four and five bed detached homes on lands that are appropriate to low density residential development.