COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SDZ, LAPS AND PLANNING PROJECTS

Friday, January 26, 2018

MOTION NO.26

MOTION: Councillor E. Higgins

That the third bullet point on social houses on Page 21 be amended to add the text highlighted in bold:“To ensure an appropriate distribution of new social housing, developed either under Part V or directly by the housing authority or an Approved Housing Body; and to avoid an excessive concentration of social housing in any one neighbourhood or block.”

Cllrs William Lavelle, Emer Higgins, Vicki Casserly, Kenneth Egan, Paula Donovan, Brian Lawlor and Conor McMahon

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 wording of Section 2.1.6 allows for flexibility in relation to how and where social housing is delivered, while avoiding an over concentration in general, and it is not considered necessary to identify social housing providers. This aspect of the proposed could prejudice against other future mechanisms for the provision and distribution of social housing.

Further to the proposed restriction on the concentration of social housing in any one neighbourhood or block, it is advised that Section 2.8 of the Draft Planning Scheme sets out maximums for block sizes with no minimums in accordance with urban design guidance and DMURS. In some cases a block could take the form of one building. Furthermore, neighbourhoods are not defined as a planning unit under the Draft Planning scheme. The wording of this aspect of the proposed motion could therefore unnecessarily prejudice the delivery of social housing and add to uncertainty in relation to its delivery.

In the context of the nature and prescription of Development Areas as planning units under the Draft Planning Scheme, it is accepted that Section 2.1.6 could be amended to avoid excessive concentration of social housing units in Development Areas.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment.

Include the following additional text under Section 2.1.6 (Social Housing):

To ensure an appropriate distribution of new social housing, and to avoid an excessive concentration of social housing in Development Areas.

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.