COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SDZ, LAPS AND PLANNING PROJECTS

Friday, January 26, 2018

MOTION NO. 4

MOTION: Councillor M. Ward

Page 4, Insert new third bullet point: “To meet existing and future housing need through an adequate supply of social and affordable housing fully integrated into the overall planning scheme.”

Louise Dunne, Cathal King, Danny O’Brien, Mark Ward

REPORT:

Response

This motion relates to Section 1.3 Overarching Principles of the Planning Scheme.

The spirit of the motion is acceptable having regard to meeting the housing needs of existing and future residents. It is considered that the motion should be re-worded for clarity and to reflect the factors outlined below.

South Dublin County Council as the planning and housing authority for the area is both obligated and mandated to achieve the best possible outcomes in terms of planned, socially integrated housing provision for all of its citizens within the planning scheme. As a major landowner in control of circa. 22% of the land bank within the plan area, it is committed to fully utilising this asset together with the statutory obligations imposed by Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) to maximise the distributed provision of social and affordable housing throughout the SDZ area. The distribution will be subject to appropriate master planning, will involve the integrated development of all lands collectively and where it necessitates commensurate land transfers / or Part 8 planning approval will be subject to Council approval. This integrated approach is aligned to the County Development Plan, the Council Housing Strategy, national housing and planning policy and sufficiently agile to allow for the incorporation of any new or additional national strategies supportive of affordability.  

Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) prescribes the mechanism for delivery of social and affordable housing including the percentage of lands that must be provided for such housing. Section 94(4) of the aforementioned legislation states that a housing strategy prepared as part of a County Development Plan shall provide a specified percentage, not being more than 10 per cent, of the land zoned for residential use, or for a mixture of residential and other uses, shall be reserved for social housing and/or affordable housing.

Section 168(4) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) states that a draft planning scheme for residential development shall be consistent with the relevant Housing Strategy for the County.

Under section 2.1.6 of the Clonburris Strategic Development Zone Draft Planning Scheme, it is a stated objectives to

• Apply a 10% social housing requirement, pursuant to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 - 2016 (as amended) to all sites in the Planning Scheme that are solely for residential use, or for a mixture of residential and other uses (save where the development qualifies for a modified or amended obligation or is otherwise exempted).
• To promote social integration and facilitate a diverse range of dwelling tenures within housing developments, including social housing; and
• To ensure an appropriate distribution of new social housing, and to avoid an excessive concentration of social housing.

In the context that the Affordable Housing Schemes have been stood down under Government Housing Policy (Housing Policy, June 2011 and DECLG Circular 11/2012) the South Dublin County Council Interim Housing Strategy 2016 sets out a prescribed requirement for social housing only. Any subsequent change to Housing Policy in relation to Affordable Housing will, however, be applied to the Interim Housing Strategy and the SDZ Planning Scheme.

The requirements of the Draft Planning Scheme with regard to its social housing requirement are therefore consistent with the South Dublin County Council Interim Housing Strategy 2016 and in turn Section 168(4) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Until such time as Government Policy on Affordable Housing changes, the inclusion of an objective that promotes Affordable Housing would be inconsistent with Housing Strategy for the County and at variance with the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as mended).

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment.

n Section 1.3 Overarching Principles of the Planning Scheme, insert a new bullet point stating:

To meet existing and future housing need through an adequate supply of social  and affordable housing, fully integrated into the overall planning scheme, in accordance with the South Dublin County Council Interim Housing Strategy 2016 and any future strategies.

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.