COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SDZ, LAPS AND PLANNING PROJECTS

Friday, January 26, 2018

MOTION NO. 145

MOTION: Councillor P. Gogarty

Amend section 2.5.3 Clonburris Urban Centre – Core Retail Area to read:
 
The Scheme provides one major retail District Centre at Clonburris Urban
Centre, focused on the transport interchange at Fonthill Train Station. For
the purpose of retail policy, a Core Retail Area for the Clonburris Urban
Centre and Kishoge Urban centres are defined in the Function Map for
the Planning Scheme (see Figure 2.5.1).
 
Gross floor area up to a maximum of 19,500 sqm shall be provided
within Clonburris Core Retail Area. It should accommodate a minimum
of one large supermarket, with supporting comparison goods floor area.
Retail services, community, leisure, employment, civic and cultural
uses should be provided in addition to retail. As a minimum, a District
Centre must include one large supermarket and units suitable for use
as individual shops and retail service outlets, such as newsagent,
pharmacy, doctor’s/dentist’s surgery, bank and/or estate agency uses.
The retail units should be provided principally at ground level in the
centre.
A cap of 4,500sqm net convenience sales area applies to any store in
the Planning Scheme. Larger comparison and convenience shopping
will be limited to 4 or 5 units, with the remaining allocated floorspace
allocated to small and medium sized units. The provision of stand alone
retail stores and shops which are not integrated into the urban design
framework for the designated centres shall be avoided.
Retail provision should generally be provided in tandem with the
provision and occupation of residential units (see the Place Making
Requirements section of the Phasing Strategy). As outlined in the
Clonburris SDZ Retail Study, the development of the retail provision in
the District Centre requires build out of the residential units to provide
available expenditure in the catchment to ensure viability. This is
reflected in the phasing schedule.

REPORT:

The primary subject of this motion is the increased quantum of retail at Clonburris Core Retail Centre from a maximum of 12,920 sqm to a maximum of 19,500 sqm.

The Chief Executive recommends that this motion is not adopted as the Draft Planning Scheme has been carefully prepared to comply with the designation of Clonburris as a District Centre. Exceeding the prescribed maximum quantum of retail in the DPS will adversely impact on the viability and vitality of existing centres, in particular Clondalkin Town Centre.

A Retail Study (2017) was prepared to inform the retail provision and accompanies the DPS. The Retail Study:

The Chief Executive advises that in retail terms, Clonburris is designated with a District Centre under the South Dublin County Council Development Plan 2016 – 2022, the Retail Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2008 –2016 and the Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2010 – 2022.

The Chief Executive advises that the maximum quantum of retail floorspace within the Clonburris Retail Core accords with a District Centre status and the Kishoge Retail Core is a lower level Local Centre. This accords with the principles of retail planning policies and guidelines, including the protection of existing adjacent retail locations such as Lucan Village and Clondalkin Town Centre.

Clonburris SDZ is within the retail catchment of Clondalkin Town Centre and it is the policy of the Council, as stated in Section 5.6.3 of the County Development Plan to support the vitality and viability of retailing in the Town and Village Centre of Clondalkin and encourage the expansion and intensification of the Core Retail Area to serve the established and growing catchment population. The provision of significant additional retail to that prescribed in the Retail Study and the DPS for Clonburris would be contrary to established County Development Plan policies. As a guide on the scale, the Retail Study (2017) estimated that Clondalkin Town Centre has a retail provision of c12,500 sqm.

It is national policy, by way of the Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2012), that a convenience cap of 4,000 sqm apply to new retail stores or extensions to existing stores. As such, the provision of 4,500 sqm is contrary to these Guidelines.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the motion is not adopted.

Strategic Environmental Assessment of Chief Executive’s Recommendation

No interaction with Strategic Environmental Objectives.

Strategic Environmental Assessment of Proposed Motion

The motion is not consistent with provisions relating to retail in terms of the Retail Study prepared for the planning scheme, the South Dublin CDP 2016-2022 and the Retail Planning Guidelines. Altering this scheme to support this motion could give rise to effects in terms of existing viability of settlements such as Clondalkin and may negatively affect other retail elements included in the scheme. This could give rise to in combination and negative effects in terms of population and human health and material assets, particularly transport. It is not recommended that this motion is adopted.

Appropriate Assessment Screening of Chief Executive’s Recommendation

No likely significant effects on European sites within the SDZ’s zone of influence are predicted.