COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SDZ, LAPS AND PLANNING PROJECTS
Friday, January 26, 2018
MOTION NO.15
MOTION: Councillor M. Ward
Page 21, under Social Housing insert a new paragraph before paragraph one: “The Provision of social and affordable housing should be fully integrated into the overall planning scheme to provide for mixed income and mixed tenure communities.”
Louise Dunne, Cathal King, Danny O’Brien, Mark Ward
REPORT:
Response
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 approx. 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 off all lands collectively and where it necessitates commensurate land transfers 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.
The Draft Planning Scheme accords with the aspect of the subject motion that seeks the integration of social housing. 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 the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as mended).
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.
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.
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. Until such time as there is a change in Government Policy on Affordable Housing, the insertion of an objective that promotes Affordable Housing into the SDZ Planning Scheme would be inconsistent with the Interim Housing Strategy and Planning and Development Legislation.
Further to the aspect of the motion that seeks the integration of social housing, it is advised that the following is a stated objectives of Section 2.1.6 of the Clonburris Strategic Development Zone Draft Planning Scheme:
- 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.
The intent of the aspect of the proposed motion to ensure the integration of social housing has been fulfilled by the Draft Planning Scheme and no amendment to the Planning Scheme is required it this regard.
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.