COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

QUESTION NO. 10

QUESTION: Councillor Eoin O'Broin

"The written response to Motions 15 (63225), 17 (62768) and 18 (63235),  of the September 2019 Clondalkin Area Meeting included the following paragraph:

'The reference 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.'

To ask the Chief Executive, what contributions the Achaeologist, Ecologist, Arborist made to the preliminary urban framework layout and if in general there is a hierarchy of importance given to the inputs of any of the Urban Designer,  Planner, Architect, Transport Engineer, Archaeologist, Ecologist, Arborist, Landscape Architect and an Environmental Planner?"

REPLY:

In general, a multi disciplinary design team is required as part of preparing an urban framework or indeed a planning application. As part of the preparation of a layout for an area, key baseline analysis is required to be undertaken to inform the process. Baseline analysis includes for, but is not limited to, topography, watercourses and flood risk, trees, hedgerows and woodland, views and noise, edge conditions, ecology: European and national designations, ecology: other ecological receptors, archaeology and cultural heritage, walking, cycling and public transport, road infrastructure and utilities. These considerations are amended based on the site characteristics. Each of the sections of baseline analysis generally provide preliminary recommendations for integration into the urban design process/layout and outline further research that may be required. There is no defined hierarchy of consideration and the consideration of the inputs in the layout varies from site to site depending on the context and characteristics of the site, as well as from team to team.