COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SDZ, LAPS AND PLANNING PROJECTS

Friday, January 26, 2018

MOTION NO. 46

MOTION: Councillor F. Timmons

That this SDZ Calls for the re-introduction of the Affordable housing Scheme that would allow young Couples on the Average Industrial wage to buy their own Homes. We ask for an allocation towards affordable housing that’s fairly pitched at low and middle income families to meet the needs of struggling families in Dublin Mid West 

Cllrs G. O Connell, P. Gogarty and L. O'Toole 

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.

Until such time as Government Policy on Affordable Housing changes, the promotion of 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. Section 94(4) of the aforementioned legislation states that a housing strategy prepared as part of a County Development Plan shall provide for such accommodation.

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.

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. This is reflected under the Draft Planning Scheme.

Any subsequent change to Housing Policy in relation to Affordable Housing will be applied to the Interim Housing Strategy and the SDZ Planning Scheme.

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.