COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
MOTION NO. 17
MOTION: Councillor E. Higgins
"That this Area Committee seeks a Biodiversity study of the Woodland Area in Rathcoole as a matter of urgency."
REPORT:
The South Dublin County Council Development Plan 2016 – 2022 (Development Plan) has a range of planning policies and objectives covering Green Infrastructure, Heritage, Conservation and Landscapes.
Further to the Development Plan, the Council is currently preparing a countywide Biodiversity Strategy. The Development Plan policies and Biodiversity Strategy seek to protect and promote biodiversity across the County. They also ensure biodiversity and ecology are appropriately and carefully considered during the plan making, planning consent and development processes on all lands in the County.
The referred to woodlands at Rathcoole in the ownership of SDCC are partially zoned New Residential (RES-N), Rural (RU) and Open Space (OS). The Council is currently considering how new homes and associated community facilities could be provided in this area to support a new residential community. An initial discussion on this was held at the full Council meeting on 8th July. A preliminary urban framework layout was displayed at that meeting. The preparation of that preliminary urban framework for the area was carried out by a multi disciplinary team including an urban designer, planner, architect, transport engineer, archaeologist, ecologist, arborist, landscape architect and an environmental planner. As such, the preliminary layout is informed by environmental and biodiversity considerations.
In the event that the Council proceed with a planning application for these lands there would be a requirement to prepare a comprehensive planning pack that is in line with the policies in the County Development Plan and to carry out the relevant ecological, biodiversity, flood risk and sustainable urban drainage assessments.
Specifically in relation to Ecological Protection, the Development Plan states
‘In order to comply with European and National legislation on nature conservation, and to ensure that areas of biodiversity value are adequately protected, an Ecological Assessment will be required for development proposals that have the potential to impact on environmentally sensitive sites. This includes sites that are protected under EU and National Legislation; sites that may be in use by, or contain protected species or habitats; or sites that are in proximity to significant watercourses.’
An ecological assessment is an appraisal of the likely impacts to wildlife (flora and fauna) of a development project and is undertaken by a suitably qualified professional ecologist. This would include an examination of the extent of flora and fauna on the site, the identification of what is important and what may need to be protected or mitigated. This work would inform any future planning application/ proposal for the site.
To progress a development proposal for the land, the Council will carry out all the necessary ecological and biodiversity assessments in line with National and Council adopted planning policies and strategy.