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. 156

MOTION: Councillor P. Gogarty

In Section 2.6.3 Employment Floor Space amend section to read as follows:

The following types of commercial development are the target sector for the employment floorspace outlined in the Planning Scheme:
 
Office and business premises for local employers in financial, professional services, insurance, legal services, property services, software and service start-up;
 
Small flexible business premises;
 
Light manufacturing suitable for an urban environment;
 
and
 
Support services to the industries located in the technological crescent zone from Citywest to Grangecastle Castle Business Park.
 
The employment floorspace should be provided in the form of 10,000-20,000sqm of flexible floorspace to cater for small and medium sized expanding businesses and the balance to be provided for in buildings of a larger floor plate. As a minimum, 10% of the employment floorspace provided in the Urban Centres shall be in the form of small- medium sized units/incubation units of between 100 – 300sq.m.
 
Additionally, the Planning Scheme supports enterprise/training floorspace to facilitate the development of a range of employment and enterprise opportunities in Clonburris. Any enterprise/training space should take the form of a purpose built facility located at Kishoge or Clonburris. The purpose of the enterprise/training facilities is to provide office, training, incubation and workshop accommodation backed up by support, catering for local business start-ups.
 
Commercial uses such as hotels, hostels, bed and breakfast, funeral homes, public houses, nursing homes, garden centres, conference centres and healthcare facilities etc are generally permitted in principle in the Urban Centres.

REPORT:

The subject motion requests the listing of Light Industry as a target sector in Section 2.6.3 Employment Floor Space. Having regard to the location of the SDZ lands, it is considered that there is potential for light industry development and it is noted that Industry – Light is Permitted in Principle in Mixed Use areas under Section 2.1.3 of the DPS. As such, the provision of Light Industry is facilitated in the Draft Planning Scheme.

In relation to the text changes, the target sector for the employment floorspace is derived from an evidence based Employment Floor Space Demand Study (2017). The study did not recommend Light Industry as a target floorspace and as such, it is not recommended to be included in this section of the Draft Planning Scheme text.

In relation to the increase in the employment floorspace provided for SME’s from 10,000 in the DFS to 10,000 - 20,000 in the motion, it is considered that this proposal is linked to the overall minimum employment floorspace increasing to 60,000 sqm. It is considered that 10,000 sqm out of the proposed 31,115 sqm is adequate in the DPS. The 10,000 sqm figure is derived from the Employment Floor Space Demand Study (2017).

In relation to the increase in the upper range of size for the small-medium sized units/incubation units to 300sqm, the Chief Executive accepts that this will provide further flexibility for delivery.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the motion is adopted with amendment:

Amend Section 2.6.3 to increase the upper limit of the range for small-medium sized units/incubation units to 300sqm.

 ‘... small-medium sized units/incubation units of between 100 – 300sq.m.’

Strategic Environmental Assessment of Chief Executive’s Recommendation

No interaction with Strategic Environmental Objectives.

Appropriate Assessment Screening of Chief Executive’s Recommendation

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