COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SDZ, LAPS AND PLANNING PROJECTS

Friday, January 26, 2018

MOTION NO. 309

MOTION: Councillor E. Higgins

That, notwithstanding the An Bord Pleanala decision to remove a phasing requirement for the delivery of a tunnel outside of the Adamstown SDZ, that Section 4, Phasing, be strengthened by providing a detailed phasing programme that links milestones in terms of the number of residential units delivered, to infrastructure improvements within the Clonburris SDZ.

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

REPORT:

The subject motion proposes providing a detailed phasing programme that links milestones in terms of the number of residential units delivered, to infrastructure improvements. Noting the quoted context of Adamstown and the Phoenix Park Tunnel, it is assumed that the motion relates to public transport infrastructure. 

The National Transport Authority (NTA) is a statutory body established by the Minister for Transport. At a national level, the National Transport Authority has responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger land transport services. This includes the provision of subvented bus and rail services by Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus and Irish Rail.

Section 4 of the Draft Planning Scheme details the Phasing Programme for the development of the lands. The Phasing Programme aims to provide a balanced delivery of infrastructure, urban centres and community services in tandem with population increase through a logical flexible schedule. 

Current policy and legislation provides the context for the phasing approach the subject lands:  

• 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 to be of economic and social importance to the State. 
• The Clonburris SDZ is categorised as a Major Urban Housing Development Site (MUHDS), and was allocated funding in 2017 under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF)
• The Planning Policy Statement 2015 and Rebuilding Ireland (DHPCLG, 2016) indicate that planning must proactively drive and support sustainable development, integrating consideration of its economic, social and environmental aspects at the earliest stage to deliver development in an economically viable manner that will sustain recovery and future prosperity.

The subject motion is one of a number of motions proposing to amend Table 4.3 of the Scheme to link various transport infrastructure, predominantly individual planned public transport projects, and the delivery of residential units.

The Transport Assessment and Strategy that accompanies the Draft Planning Scheme outlines that the Orbital Bus Route and the DART Underground/Expansion as well as additional local and secondary orbital bus routes will serve the trip demands of the Draft Planning Scheme. A key principle of the Phasing Programme is to identify the critical infrastructure and link the critical infrastructure to the delivery of residential development.  The relevant national transport infrastructure for the area is planned through the NTA Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2016 - 2035 and planned projects such as the Orbital Bus from Tallaght to Blanchardstown; DART Underground; DART Expansion to Hazelhatch; Upgrade of Radial Bus Services on the N4 and N7; and Luas to Lucan will benefit the wide catchment of Clondalkin, Lucan, Tallaght, Blanchardstown and north east Kildare area. Further to concerns raised in the motions in relation to committing to the planned public transport proposals, a submission from the NTA on the Draft Planning Scheme confirms that the NTA is committed to delivering the planned public transport infrastructure in the area.

As a summary, the Chief Executive outlines that the Lucan and Clondalkin area will benefit from the planned future public transport and the Draft Planning Scheme does not phase development in the Clonburris SDZ with the delivery of planned public transport for the following reasons:

• The main public transport infrastructure serving the Planning Scheme are the two railways stations that allow access to the Kildare Railway route. It is considered that location of the lands adjacent to the railway is the primary rationale for the designation of the SDZ (two train stations delivered). The Phasing in the Planning Scheme includes the opening of the Kishoge Railway Station and it is the view of the Chief Executive that the phasing of the delivery of residential development to public transport should only be linked to the accessibility of residents to the Kildare Railway Line to achieve sustainable development.
• Phasing additional public transport provision would be uncompetitive and inconsistent in relation to other zoned lands in the County/ GDA and contrary to the Government policy position in Planning Policy Statement 2015 and Rebuilding Ireland (DHPCLG, 2016) to proactively drive and support sustainable development, integrating consideration of its economic, social and environmental aspects at the earliest stage to deliver development in an economically viable manner.
• The mix and location of land uses in the Draft Planning Scheme, access to two railway stations serving the key trip demand to Dublin City and the permeability of the masterplan are the primary components influencing the trip generation, trip distribution and mode split projections
• Quantum of development in the Draft Planning Scheme is based on density ranges. The density ranges are derived having regard to the existing public transport infrastructure.
• The provision of the Orbital Bus route and the DART Expansion, although desirable for the enhancement of public transport facilities directly serving Clonburris in the medium and long term, are of such a scale in capacity terms that the development of Clonburris is not dependent on their completion. The modelled 2026 scenario in the Transport Assessment and Strategy demonstrates that the early delivery of the DART Expansion is not required.
• The precedent of the Adamstown ABP decision to remove the Phoenix Park Tunnel Link works from the phasing.
• Traffic and Transport Assessments (TTA) provides access to further assessment of the transport impacts of proposed developments at planning application stage and provides a safeguard on the interim impacts on existing transport infrastructure pending delivery of strategic transport infrastructure.
• The Phasing Programme is based on the minimum delivery per phase, any works may be brought forward and completed sooner than scheduled in the Phasing Programme.
• The Phasing Programme provides a balanced approach, proactively supporting sustainable development and integrating consideration of its economic, social and environmental aspects at the earliest stage to deliver development in an economically viable manner in accordance with Government Policy. 

Within the context of the above, the proposed motion could delay or inhibit the delivery of housing required by the Core Strategy of the County Development Plan and supported by national policy and legislation.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the 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.