COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SDZ, LAPS AND PLANNING PROJECTS

Friday, January 26, 2018

MOTION NO.265

MOTION: Councillor P. Gogarty

Clonburris SDZ (Alternate Motion to previous)

To delete the following development area and all references to same in the plan, simultaneously changing the zoning to amenity:

Clonburris South East section CSE-S2, amending Fig 2.1.2,  Fig 2.1.4 and all subsequent figures, graphs, tables and text that reference same and/or include these lands as residential development, the housing capacity being transferred to Clonburris Urban Centre;

and to reorientate the Canal Extension away from existing housing and towards the canal, maximising the amenity value of same and providing for potential recreational and service opportunities as part of any residential development facing the canal amenity;

as per amended Table 2.1.5 (covering several motions) should read "as per the listed amendments for Table 2.13.1 (referenced in and covering several motions), with a related adjustment for High and Low margins in each case and amendments made throughout the rest of the Plan document to reflect these changes should the motions containing this table be passed in whole or in part"

Cllrs G. O'Connell, L. O'Toole and F. Timmons

REPORT:

This motion relates to the Canal Extension and Clonburris South East Section CSE-S2 areas as shown on the maps submitted with this motion.

The Draft Planning Scheme for the Clonburris SDZ has been prepared as a direct result of Government legislation (S.I. No. 604 of 2015). The SDZ Order identifies the lands at Clonburris, consisting of 280 hectares, as a site for the establishment of an SDZ and deems the lands to be of economic and social importance to the State. The lands that make up the Canal Extension and Clonburris South East Section CSE-S2 are included in this Government designation and therefore must comprise part of the Planning Scheme.

The Government’s position on the Clonburris SDZ is reinforced by the classification of the SDZ lands as a Major Urban Housing Development Site (MUHDS), and also the allocation of funding in 2017, to the SDZ lands under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF).

In this regard the Canal Extension and Clonburris South East Section CSE-S2 areas have been designated for residential development (together delivering approx. 200 dwellings) under the Draft SDZ Planning Scheme in accordance with:

• the requirements of the SDZ Order (S.I. No. 604 of 2015) for the subject lands in terms of residential development within the ‘designated area’;
• the Interim Housing Strategy for South Dublin County (2016) in terms of meeting the housing needs for the County (32,650 dwellings between 2016 and 2022);
• the Guidelines on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (2009) in terms of overall residential density across the SDZ lands. Removal of reference to or development of the Clonburris South East Section CSE-S2 area which has been included in the current County Development Plan Core Strategy to meet the housing needs of the County, would not be consistent with the SDZ Order, the Housing Strategy and the statutory ministerial guidelines. Sections 28(1) and 168(4) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), requires SDZ Planning Schemes to be consistent with the relevant housing strategy and require Planning Authorities to have regard to ministerial guidelines.Section 2.10 Landscape and Open Space of the Draft Planning Scheme, outlines the amenity and recreational hierarchy to be provided at Clonburris. Ninety hectares of parks and open space will be provided across a range of strategic open spaces, local parks, square and local open spaces etc. The location and hierarchy of these amenity areas are based on a variety of factors including the location of existing assets such as Griffeen Valley Park and the Grand Canal, site topographical features and detailed urban design masterplanning of the overall SDZ lands. Accordingly, it is considered that the Clonburris South East Section CSE-S2 area is best placed for the development proposals currently outlined in the Draft Planning Scheme.As stated under Section 2.1.6 (Dwelling Mix) of the Draft Planning Scheme, densities and building heights will inform the dwelling mix in development areas and that higher density areas will accommodate a mix of apartments, duplexes and maisonettes while medium density areas will also include houses. The densities strategy of the Draft Planning Scheme has been carefully considered to promote a mix of dwelling types and choice across the SDZ lands. This accords with the Guidelines on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (2009), which seeks to provide for a diverse range of household types in residential areas.The proposed motion would increase densities and buildings heights in the Clonburris Urban Centre and surrounding development areas in manner that will increase the proportion of apartments and reduce dwelling mix resulting in less choice and more mono dwelling types. This would be at variance with density/dwelling mix strategy of the Draft Planning Scheme and the aforementioned Guidelines. The proposed motion would also increase the general building heights in the Clonburris Urban Centre and surrounding Development Areas to in and beyond 6 storeys.  

The motion submitted proposes the relocation of the Canal Extension Development Area away from existing housing and towards the Grand Canal. The relocated area is shown on the map submitted with the motion. This proposal is contrary to the provisions of the Draft Planning Scheme for the following reasons:

• The proposal may have negative interaction with Strategic Environmental Objectives which would be contrary to the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004.
• Section 2.3.2 Green Infrastructure Network states that development proposals close to the Grand Canal shall include a 50 metre set-back for all buildings and a 30m set-back distance for development (with the exception of bridges and footpaths) from the Proposed Natural Heritage Area (pNHA) boundary.
• Section 2.9.3 Foul Water Drainage states that there is a network of three 600mm foul sewers located to the south of the Grand Canal, adequate setbacks are required from this sewer network.

The location of the Canal Extension Development Area is based on a variety of wider factors including site topographical features, existing site opportunities and constraints, the location of strategic assets such as Griffeen Valley Park and the Grand Canal, and detailed urban design masterplanning of the overall SDZ lands.

Recommendation 

It is recommended that this motion is not adopted.

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.