COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Monday, May 16, 2016

MOTION NO. 14

MOTION: Councillor P. Gogarty

Motion Cllrs Paul Gogarty, Liona O'Toole, Guss O'Connell

Amend E2 Objective 6 to read: To ensure all new public buildings (eg Council buildings, school buildings, hospitals, health centres, community centres, sports facilities, libraries, Garda stations etc) are designed to include PV solar panels for electricity generation/storage and/or water heating so as to reduce energy costs, minimise carbon emissions and reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels.

REPORT:

It is noted that the energy efficiency and renewable energy requirements for the construction of new non-residential buildings are currently addressed in the Building Regulations Part L (2008) and relevant national policy and guidelines. In consideration of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the Planning and Development Amendment Act 2010, it is considered that the function of County Development Plan policies and objectives in this regard, is to support incremental changes to the Building Regulations Part L, national guidelines and other guidance, that may occur over the lifetime of the Development Plan, without duplicating or introducing specific requirements on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies that may conflict with or impede the implementation of the Building Regulations on any specific site for development. It is recommended that the Draft Plan policies and objectives continue to support any future changes to the Building Regulations and national guidance, such as for example, Towards Nearly Zero Energy Buildings in Ireland: Planning for 2020 and Beyond, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, (2012).

Solar Energy is also specifically addressed in Energy (E) Policy 7 of the Draft Development Plan, which states,

‘It is the policy of the Council to promote the development of solar energy infrastructure in the County, in particular for on-site energy use, including solar PV, solar thermal and seasonal storage technologies. Such projects will be considered subject to environmental safeguards and the protection of natural or built heritage features, biodiversity and views and prospects’.

Development Management standards for solar energy proposals are also contained in Section 11.7.5 of Chapter 11 – Implementation.

In consideration of the motion to ensure that all new public buildings are designed to include PV solar panels, such a mandatory requirement could increase the cost of constructing public buildings in South Dublin County, whereby energy requirements on site are unique to each public building and are addressed on a case by case basis. For example, the low hot water needs or absence of high energy demand loads etc across the range of public buildings, would negate the specific necessity for solar panels on each new public building to be constructed in South Dublin County.

As such, it is considered that the energy performance of new buildings, which includes public buildings, is sufficiently addressed in Energy (E) Policy 4 and Chapter 11 Implementation, of the Draft Plan. Under Energy (E) Policy 4, the Council aims to ensure that all new development is designed to take account of the impacts of climate change, and that energy efficiency and renewable energy measures are considered in accordance with national building regulations, policy and guidelines.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment:

E2 Objective 6 to read as follows:

‘To support, where feasibly practical and viable, the provision of PV solar panels in new public buildings (eg Council buildings, school buildings, hospitals, health centres, community centres, sports facilities, libraries, Garda stations etc), for electricity generation/storage and/or water heating so as to reduce energy costs, minimise carbon emissions and reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels’.